Harvest mite is the common name for which mite species?

• A. Cheyletiella
• B. Demodex canis
• C. Otodectes cynotis
• D. Trombicula autumnalis

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how the common name “harvest mite” maps to a specific mite species. Harvest mite is the larval stage of Trombicula autumnalis, a chigger mite. In nature, the larvae are parasitic on animals (and sometimes humans), attaching to the skin and feeding on skin fluids, which can cause intense itching and dermatitis. The adults of this species live in the soil and are not parasitic, which is why the name is tied to the larval stage.

The other mites listed are different and associated with other conditions. Cheyletiella causes walking dandruff, Demodex canis is linked to demodectic mange, and Otodectes cynotis is the ear mite. Since the harvest mite specifically refers to Trombicula autumnalis, that is the correct association.