Acarines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A class of arthropods known for comprising mites and ticks, which are often microscopic in size
2. Each member typically has eight legs and is found in diverse habitats
3. They play significant roles in ecosystems, including as predators, parasites, and decomposers

Etymology: "Acarines" is the plural of "acarine," and the word is built from "acar-," the combining form of "acarus," the Latin-derived name for the mite genus, plus the suffix "-ine," which in English chemistry and zoology often marks a member of a group. The singular "acarine" therefore means something close to "a member of the mites," and "acarines" simply refers to a group of such creatures. The source of "acar-" is the Greek "akari," a tiny mite or tick, which is related to the Greek "akari" in the sense of something minute. Its use in English is a technical coinage from classical roots, not a word that ancient writers applied to the arachnids we now study, so the scientific naming of mites was a modern development.

Synonyms: mites, ticks, arachnids, spiders, insects