Flour Mite (or similar stored product mite, e.g., Mold Mite)
Scientific Name: Acarus siro (Flour Mite) or Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Mold Mite)
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Acaridae
Size: Microscopic, typically 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Found in stored dry food products such as flour, grain, cheese, corn, and dried fruit, particularly in humid and warm environments.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on fungi (mold) growing on food products, as well as the grain germ, cheese, and flour itself.
Behavior Patterns
They reproduce rapidly in humid conditions, causing a 'minty' odor when crushed. They move slowly and can appear as a moving 'dust' layer on infected items.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Can spoil food, causing a 'grocer's itch' skin rash in handlers and triggering allergic reactions (respiratory issues) in sensitive individuals. Benefits: None in a domestic setting; they are primarily pests.
Identified on: 2/27/2026