Sex Time!

SpookySpooder

"embiggened"
Joined
Jun 21, 2023
Messages
1,086
Mites are harmless they say...

After reading this, I want to bleach my face and take a long boiling hot shower
 

viper69

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
18,820
Mites are harmless they say...

After reading this, I want to bleach my face and take a long boiling hot shower
There’s an invert that can only be seen with an electron microscope that lives on our eyebrows its entire life. And that’s just one of many on our bodies.
 

SpookySpooder

"embiggened"
Joined
Jun 21, 2023
Messages
1,086
Yeah, not to mention all the stuff inside too. We're a veritable ecosystem that relies on these creatures. I wonder what will happen to the skin of generations that come after these mites go extinct.
 

Biollantefan54

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Messages
2,307
There’s an invert that can only be seen with an electron microscope that lives on our eyebrows its entire life. And that’s just one of many on our bodies.
You can see them with regular microscopes :) here is one I found on my face 52849975173_10bf70ee15_o.jpeg
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,507
There’s an invert that can only be seen with an electron microscope that lives on our eyebrows its entire life.
The dreaded Demodex that loves to set up shop in the hair follicles of eyebrows and eyelashes. Since they don't feed directly from vascularized tissue they are usually immune to parasite medication and give the itch that keeps on giving.
 
Last edited:

spideyspinneret78

Arachnoprince
Joined
Jul 19, 2019
Messages
1,379
A lot of mammals have their own species of Demodex mites. I work in vetmed and see them all the time under the microscope. MOST of the time they're harmless and call me crazy but I actually think they're kind of cute. They look like chubby little cigars with stumpy legs. It's funny to watch them wiggle.
 

ChaniLB520

Arachnosquire
Joined
Nov 11, 2021
Messages
62
As a scientist and educator, I love my personal ecosystem! Fun to tell students about during the first week of BIO class, lol. I also agree that they're cute :lol:
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,507
MOST of the time they're harmless and call me crazy but I actually think they're kind of cute.
Are any of them harmful in and of themselves? I know some can be precursors to worse problems such as opening the door for sarcoptes, and they can cause infections indirectly. Do they directly cause dermatitis or other?
 

spideyspinneret78

Arachnoprince
Joined
Jul 19, 2019
Messages
1,379
Are any of them harmful in and of themselves? I know some can be precursors to worse problems such as opening the door for sarcoptes, and they can cause infections indirectly. Do they directly cause dermatitis or other?
In animals with weakened immune systems, they can become too numerous and cause skin problems like demodectic mange, which is not contagious.
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,507
time to go bleach my cats
Not wet enough. Ordinary water can't even get a flea wet. Chlorine solutions are even worse. Big clunky molecules. If you can't afford a mite killer repeated soakings in laundry detergent solution will eventually drown them. Alternately mild solutions of BKC will do the job. Ultra low surface tension is the key.
Use the razor blade test. An ordinary blade floats on top of water. To fully wet and drown a mite the solution will allow the blade to sink, or at least to partially submerge.
 

SpookySpooder

"embiggened"
Joined
Jun 21, 2023
Messages
1,086
Thank you for that. Gave me a hearty laugh.

In all seriousness though--I'm not worried, and I am not chemically dipping my cats.

To those that can't Google--BKC can kill your pets. Don't mix your own unless you know exactly what you're doing please.
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,507
In animals with weakened immune systems, they can become too numerous and cause skin problems like demodectic mange, which is not contagious.
So just demodicosis. Nothing out of the ordinary but still a slow lingering death eventually. In nearly all the third world neglected dogs have mange, very often acute. Bald, pink and crusty.. Usually malnutrition and it's effects claim them first.
By the way, for face mites, repeated applications of Benzoyl Peroxide in soap or shampoo does the job. The weapon of choice around here for all mite infestations. We donate a solution to the temples when we can, where many stray dogs end up. Don't get fooled by the pet store fancy sales pitches and flashy labels, or worse, phy$ician pre$cribed. In quantity BP is sold by the kg for not much more than pocket change. Just check the ingredients on the label of pet mite shampoo for dilution %. Same stuff as in acne treatment but needs to be more concentrated. May take 5 to 10 applications to control demodex, usually less for sarcoptes.
 
Last edited:
Top