Tracheal mite

Pronunciation
/TRAY-keel MITE/
Category
Parasitology
Singular
Tracheal mite
Plural
Tracheal mites

Definition

A parasitic mite that infects bees, living in the tracheae (air ducts) of the bee's thorax.

Etymology

From Greek 'tracheia', meaning 'rough artery' referring to the trachea, and 'mite', a small arachnid.

Example

Tracheal mites can cause respiratory distress and weaken bee colonies.

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