used similarly to 'lousy', as both a description of animals probably infested with mites or lice, respectively, and as a general expression of disgust. When wild animals such as foxes and coyotes are sometimes found heavily infested with sarcoptic mites, the description 'mangy' is apt.) Sarcoptes scabiei is an example of a mite that burrows within the living layers of the epidermis of its host. It infests many species of mammals. (Infestations of humans may be zoonotic, that is: transmitted from a wild or domestic animal, for example to a farmer or veterinarian handling an infested pig. Such an infestation is called a zoonosis. However, the subspecies or strain of S. scabiei adapted to humans is transmitted directly between humans, so it is not zoonotic.) Other sarcoptic mites of importance to livestock are in the genus Knemidokoptes (or Cnemidocoptes) which infest birds. Knemidokoptes gallinae, the depluming itch mite of poultry tends to infest the head and upper body, whilst K. mutans the scaly-leg mite, infests the feet. Cytoditidae and Laminosioptidae Some species of mites have adapted to infesting the internal tissues and organs of their hosts. Cytodites nudus is a typical species of this type; it infests the air-sacs of birds. Laminosioptes cysticola , the fowl cyst mite is another species of mite internally infesting birds. It has a worldwide distribution. Analgidae This family has species with a worldwide distribution that infest the superficial skin layers and feathers of poultry. Megninia ginglymura is a typical species of feather mite. Trombiculidae Trombicula species of mites are sometimes known, when in the larval stage, as berry bug, harvest mites, or chiggers (but not to be confused with jigger or chigoe flea). They feed on blood, but only in the larval stage. The lifecycle starts with eggs laid in the environment of the normal hosts of the larvae, typically rodents and other small mammals. Larvae quest for hosts whilst on vegetation in the same way in which many larval ticks do. After the engorged larva has completed feeding, it detaches from its stylostome feeding tube, drops to the ground, and molts to a nymph. The remaining lifecycle comprises the free-living nymph and adult stages predatory on other minute arthropods. The adults resemble spiders. They actively hunt amongst the ground-level debris layer of vegetation and are conspicuous by their red color and dense outer covering of fine setae, appearing like fur. Demodicidae One genus