acarid
n.n. a small, eight-legged animal that is related to spiders and ticks. These tiny creatures are often found in soil or water and are important for breaking down organic matter.
n. a small, usually microscopic arachnid belonging to the subclass Acari, which includes mites and ticks. Often used in scientific contexts to describe species that play a role in decomposition or parasitism.
The acarid lives in the soil and feeds on dead leaves.
Scientists studied the acarid population in the garden to understand how they help control plant pests.
The presence of specific acarid species in the sediment layers provided paleontologists with a precise timeline for the environmental changes that occurred during the transition from the Triassic to the Jurassic periods.
Circa 19th century; from New Latin Acaridae (“biological family”), from Acarus (“genus”), from acarus (“mite”), from Ancient Greek ἄκαρι (ákari, “mite”). By surface analysis, acar- + -id