Page 188 - The Microworld Miracle
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the slopes of Mt. Everest, or in depths of 5,200 meters (17,060 feet)
down in the Pacific Ocean. More than 50 species of mite are known
to live in the Antarctic alone. They can also be found in caves, de-
serts and tundra, in mines 10 meters (32.8 feet) deep, in the cold or
0
in thermal springs with temperatures as high as 50 C, in under-
ground waters, lakes and pools. It has been estimated that there are
more than 500,000 of these different species living in different hab-
itats. 100
During their life cycles, mites go through four stages; egg, lar-
va, nymph and adult. This period between egg and adulthood lasts
for about one month. The female egg-laying population increases
THE MICROWORLD MIRACLE
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