What does acaricide mean?
An acaricide is a chemical agent designed to kill acarines — the mites and ticks that belong to the arachnid order Acarina. Because these creatures are not insects but eight-legged relatives of spiders, ordinary insecticides do not always control them effectively, so growers, livestock keepers, and veterinarians rely on dedicated acaricides. The word appears most often in agricultural and scientific contexts: a farmer might spray an orchard with an acaricide to suppress spider mites, or a rancher might dip cattle to protect them from tick-borne disease. A recurring concern in the field is acaricide resistance, as repeated use of the same compound allows mite and tick populations to evolve tolerance. Though technical in register, the term is precise and widely understood within pest management, making it valuable vocabulary for anyone reading about farming, horticulture, or animal health.
nounA chemical substance used to kill mites and ticks, which are arachnids of the order Acarina.
- A substance that kills mites and ticks.
"The orchard was sprayed with an acaricide to control the outbreak of spider mites."
"Beekeepers must choose their acaricide carefully to avoid contaminating the honey."
"Resistance to common acaricides has made cattle tick control increasingly difficult in tropical regions."
The plural is standard and commonly used when referring to multiple products or classes of mite- and tick-killing chemicals.
"Several new acaricides have been approved for use on fruit crops this season."
Mites and ticks aren't insects — they're eight-legged arachnids — so farmers need a special class of killer just for them: the acaricide.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acaricide
Acaricide derives from the Greek-derived scientific name Acarina (or Acari), the taxonomic group encompassing mites and ticks, combined with the Latin-derived suffix -cide, meaning 'killer' or 'act of killing', as seen in words like pesticide and herbicide. The term emerged in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century alongside the growth of modern agricultural chemistry. It shares its root with related scientific terms such as acarology, the study of mites and ticks, and acariasis, infestation with acarines.
How acaricide is actually used
A technical term used mainly in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and pest control; it is rarely encountered in everyday conversation. Some acaricides are also classified as miticides when aimed specifically at mites rather than ticks.
Easily confused with acaricide
An insecticide kills insects, whereas an acaricide specifically targets mites and ticks, which are arachnids rather than insects.