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ear mite life cycle, which takes about
twenty-one days from egg to adult, entails
going through four different stages:
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Stage 1: The Eggs
Female ear mites usually lay about 5
eggs daily during their entire adult life. Deposited on the
surface lining of the ear canal, the eggs hatch within 4
days. |
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Stage 2: The Larvae
Once hatched from the eggs, the larvae
feed for 4 days then rest for 24 hours as they molt into the
nymphal phase. |
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Stage 3: The Nymphs
Two stages of nymphs are recognized.
Each feeds for 3 to 5 days and then rests and then molts to
the next stage. |
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Stage 4: The Adults
Just barely visible to the naked eye,
the adult ear mite appears white in color and feeds off the
epithelial debris in the cat's ear. There can be literally
thousands of mites crawling about the ear canal and external
ear surfaces. Ear mites do not burrow into the skin as
Sarcoptic Mites and Demodex Mites do. They are communicable
from one animal to another by direct contact.
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