SIMURG
mite
EN
n.
A very small insect that lives in plants and can cause extensive damage to grapevines. 1 2
Generally, mites feed on the undersides of leaves. They use their sucking mouthparts to remove plant saps. The upper leaf surface has a speckled or mottled appearance while the underneath appears tan or yellow and has a crusty texture. Infested leaves may turn yellow, dry up, and drop in a few weeks. Mites produce large amounts of webbing. Heavy infestation will result in a fine cobwebby appearance on the leaves. Plants die when infestation is severe. 3
Predatory mite species present in Australian vineyards: natural biological control of grapevine rust mite and bud mite: University of Melbourne researchers outline the status of Phytoseiidae predatory mite species in previously unstudied wine regions in Australia. 4
UK [mʌɪt], US [maɪt] 5
"tiny animal," O.E. mite, from P.Gmc. *miton (cf. M.Du. mite, O.H.G. miza, Dan. mide) originally meaning perhaps "the cutter" (from P.Gmc. *mait-, cf. Goth. maitan, O.H.G. meizen "to cut") in reference to its bite. More likely etymology is that its original sense is "something small" (from PIE *mei- "small") in reference to size. 8
Università degli Studi di Genova
Federico Marmeggi, r. Berutti, Barbagianni
1 : AA. VV., The New Shorter Oxford, English Dictionary, , Oxford University Press, 1993, Third Edition, vol. I, p. 1796
2 : Jackson, Ron S., Wine Science: Principles, Practice, Perception, San Diego, Academic Press, 2000.
3 : «http://www.oisat.org/pests/insect_pests/mites/spider_mites/general_information.html», (19/06/2009)
4 : «http://www.winebiz.com.au/wvj/current/», (23/11/2011)
5 : «http://www.oed.com/», (23/11/2011)
6 : «http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/9/3/?spage=1&letter=A», (19/06/2009)
7 : «http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/494533/red-spider», (19/06/2009)
8 : «http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=mite&searchmode=none», (23/11/2011)