gamasid (gamasid)

A mite of the family Gamasidæ (ga-mas'i-dē), n. pl. [NL., tral and protected by a long tubular peritreme, and no ocelli. They are parasitic on insects, birds, and other animals, sometimes on plants. Those which infest poultry can live for a time on the human skin and give rise to intolerable itching. One species is very hurtful to caged birds. The Gamasidæ are most commonly parasitic during the nymphal and adult female states. Also Gamasea, Gamasei (Dugès, 1834), and Gama sides (Leach, 1814).