The average adult body length of Cheyletus eruditus (not
including the mouthparts) is approximately 500 micrometres
(0.5mm) for the female (range: 440 - 630 micrometres). The
homeomorphic male is smaller, with a range of 280 - 320
micrometres. The heteromorphic form is about 400 micrometres
long. In life, Cheyletus eruditus is translucent white to pale
yellow. The body is widest between legs II-III and tapers
slightly posteriorly. The gnathosoma - which comprises the
structures involved in feeding - is large, conspicuous and
positioned on the anterior edge of the body. The legs are all
slender. There are 2 stigmata - openings of the respiratory
system - located next to each other in the middle of the dorsal
surface of the stylophore - the fused bases of the chelicerae. A
segmented peritreme runs from each stigma. All the legs end in
an ambulacrum - the structure on which the mite walks. Each
ambulacrum comprises two hooked claws flanking an empodium that
has long, fine, T-shaped spines (tenent hairs) along it