Skin-fauna
Guides
Demodecidae
Mammalian Follicle Mites
Demodecidae is a family of highly host-specific mites that inhabit the skin and associated structures of mammals. Species within this family typically exhibit strict specificity to a single host species, though individual mammals may harbor multiple demodecid species simultaneously. These mites occupy discrete microhabitats including hair follicles, sebaceous glands, Meibomian glands of the eye, ear canals, and other specialized skin regions. The family was formerly known as Demodicidae. Members range from among the smallest known animals (70–80 μm) to larger species exceeding 190 μm in length.