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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex
My fave parts (edited for brevity):
The adult mites are 0.3–0.4 mm (3⁄256–1⁄64 in) long. Each has a semitransparent, elongated body that consists of two fused parts. Eight short, segmented legs are attached to the first body segment. The body is covered with scales for anchoring itself in the hair follicle, and the mite has pin-like mouthparts for eating skin cells and oils that accumulate in the hair follicles.
... and ...
The mites are transferred between hosts through contact with hair, eyebrows, and the sebaceous glands of the face.
Ohhh good.
Wait, 0.3mm is huge, you should be able to see that. I don't think this is right.
0.3mm in length, not diameter. Yes, you can see them, but they just look like dead skin/gunk to our eyes.
Maybe we do see them, but mistake them for bits of skin or dirt.
Agreed. 1/64th of an inch is .016". An average human hair is .003" in diameter, that would be as long as five hairs wide. You wouldn't even need a magnifier to see the largest ones.
Combine the size with the fact that they are semi transparent and live in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, both of which are essentially under the skin, and that's why you don't generally see them.
3⁄256
Who uses inches at this scale? I mean, really, Wikipedia.
"Hand me my 1/256th inch ruler." --nobody
I learned recently that machinists used to use fractions to indicate tolerance, like a dimension given as 5/16 could be ±1/32 of an inch, because anything less than 9/32 would round to 4/16, and anything more than 11/32 to 6/16.
It can still happen, but usually at the customer's request/requirements. We actually use inches at a much smaller scale, but use decimals instead of fractions.
3⁄256
Please don't let the Amish at my work know that such small increments of size exist. They'll ask me to cut my trim to that level of tolerance
Fitting username :P
Although tbh they look kinda cute!
mouthparts
Josh & Chuck just got a tingle down their spines
This is why it's okay to make out with randos at parties and such. You get mono for 6 months plus accretion of zillions of new friends.
