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===Detection===
 
===Detection===
The method of detection is a combination of the presence of clinical signs as well as identification of mites on a skin scrape or feather pluck. Not all of infections of ''Knemidocoptes'' mite result in clinical signs.
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The method of detection is a combination of the presence of clinical signs as well as identification of mites on a skin scrape or feather pluck. Not all infections of ''Knemidocoptes'' mite result in clinical signs, some may lay dormant for until the animal is stressed or is otherwise immunocompromised.
    
===Life Cycle===
 
===Life Cycle===
The entire life cycle takes place on a single host and takes between 14 and 21 days to complete. The mite is spread by close contact with an infected animal, however it can survive for a limited time off the host. <br/>
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The entire life cycle takes place on a single host and takes between 14 and 21 days to complete. The mite is spread by close contact with an infected animal, however it can survive for a limited time off the host. Mating occurs on the host, a mature male will leave its moulting pocket and seek a female either on the skin or in a moulting pocket. The females are ovo-viviparous meaning that they give birth to live larval young. Once fertalised the female will create a burrow in the upper layers of the epidermis, the larvae will be laid in this burrow and move to the skin surface.
'''Eggs'''<br/>
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Laid into the stratum corneum by the burrowing female.<br/>
   
'''Larvae'''<br/>
 
'''Larvae'''<br/>
Burrow into the skin and go through two nymphal stages before reaching maturity
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''Knemidocoptes'' mites have hexapod larvae.Burrow into the skin creating moulting pockets and undergo two nymphal stages before reaching maturity
    
===Important Species===
 
===Important Species===
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