Mites, like ticks, are closely related to spiders. Biting mites, sometimes carried as parasites on the bodies of humans and animals, may transmit disease to humans.
(See also Introduction to Bites and Stings and Tick Bites.)
Mite infestations are common and are responsible for the intensely itchy rash caused by the bites of chiggers (mite larvae), for scabies, other itchy rashes, and a number of other disorders. The effects on the tissues around the bite vary in severity. In some Asian countries and Australia, chiggers may transmit scrub typhus.
Mites that bite come from a variety of sources, including
Birds
Rodents
Cats, dogs (especially puppies), and rabbits
Pigs
Straw, hay, seeds, and other plant material
Some mites, such as those that cause scabies, bite and burrow under the skin. Demodex mites cause a similar rash (sometimes called mange).
Some mites do not bite, but they cause allergic reactions such as
Grocer's itch (allergic contact dermatitis), which affects people who handle stored grain products, cheese, and other foods
Wheezing as a reaction to the waste products of dust mites commonly found in pillows, mattresses, and carpets
