Distribution and habitat
Cheyletus eruditus peritremes are slender and together form an M-shape
Cheyletus eruditus is considered to have a worldwide distribution, having been collected from many countries.
It has been found at both polar regions, although the record from Antarctica is a suspected introduction. (Haarløv, 1942; Pugh, 1993; Colloff, 2009)
Habitat
Most records of Cheyletus eruditus are from stored foods (mostly flour and whole grains) destined for human and domesticated animal consumption. Residual populations often remain in storage containers and premises after the contents have been removed.
It is also found in:
• nests of mammals and birds
• animal bedding
• poultry litter
• house dust
• sometimes in field habitats, e.g., haystacks, soil and plant debris
Records on domesticated animals are probably due to the animal accidentally picking the mites up, for example, during visits to infested buildings. (Griffiths, 1960; Brady, 1970; Hughes, 1976; Zdárková, 1979; McGarry, 1989; Gerson, 2003; Colloff, 2009)
Dispersal
Cheyletus eruditus can be transported over long distances in infested food. On a local level, dispersal occurs when prolonged starvation induces a period of wandering. (Summers and Witt, 1972)