Ear Cleaner (Crotalia Pyroglyphidae)

Illustration Friday: Clean

Crotalia Pyroglyphidae (Earring Mite)
Only found in northern europe, Crotalia Pyroglyphidae, or "Earring Mites", live inside of ears of warm blooded animals, most commonly domestic animals such as dogs and cows, and very often humans. They don't suck blood of their hosts - instead, eat various food sources found inside ears including cerumen(earwax) and dead skin cells, and thus called "ear cleaners" by some researchers. In a few very rare reported cases they grew larger than 1/10 of an inch and caused hearing problems and had to be removed surgically. They are also known to cause serious ear related allergic reactions. But in general Crotalia Pyroglyphidae are harmless symbiotic mites.

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