acarian
n. C2 Proficiency acar·i·an
n. a very small insect that lives in the soil and eats the roots of plants. It can cause plants to die by damaging their ability to get water and nutrients.
n. a minute insect of the family Acari, which includes mites and ticks. Often used in agricultural contexts to describe pests that damage plant roots.
The farmer noticed that the acarian was destroying the crop.
Heavy infestations of acarian can lead to significant crop losses if not treated with specific pesticides.
While some species of acarian are beneficial for controlling other pests, others are notorious for their ability to colonize the rhizosphere and cause severe root rot in commercial orchards.