Cheese mites

Tyrophagus putrescentiae

Appearance:

Adult 0.5 mm. Hairy, soft, creamy white body with 8 non-hairy legs.

Reproduction:

Development cycle from egg to full insect takes 10 days at normal room temperature. Females lay up to 800 eggs in their lifetime, on average 20-30 per day.
The larval stage has only 6 legs, after the transformation to nymph they are 8-legged like the adults. Full insect lives 60-70 days.

Way of life:

Spoils food and causes skin irritation and stomach upset.
Feeds on nuts, dried fruit, dried egg, flour and tobacco, loves old cheese.
Prefers warmth and moisture – cannot survive in the refrigerator.