The term
scabicide is more narrow, and refers to agents specifically targeting Sarcoptes.
The term "arachnicide" is more general, and refers to agents that target
arachnids. This term is used much more rarely, but occasionally appears in informal writing.
As a practical matter,
mites are a
paraphyletic grouping,[2] and mites and ticks are usually treated as a single group.
Ivermectin can be prescribed by a medical doctor to rid humans of mite and lice infestations, and agricultural formulations are available for infested birds and rodents.
Lime sulfur is effective against
sarcoptic mange. It is made by mixing hydrated
lime,
sulfur, and water, and
boiling for about 1 hour.
Hydrated lime can bond with about 1.7 times its weight of sulfur (
quicklime can bond with as much as 2.2 times its weight of sulfur). The strongest concentrate is diluted 1:32 before saturating the skin (avoiding the eyes), applied at six-day intervals.
Acaricides are also being used in attempts to stop
rhinoceros poaching. Holes are drilled into the horn of a
sedated rhino and acaricide is pumped in and pressurized. Should the horn be consumed by humans as in
traditional Chinese medicine, it is expected to cause
nausea,
stomachache, and diarrhea, or convulsions, depending on the quantity, but not fatalities. Signs posted at
wildlife refuges that the rhinos therein have been treated are thus expected to deter poaching. The original idea grew out of research into using the horn as a
reservoir for one-time
tick treatments; the acaricide is selected to be safe for the rhino,
oxpeckers,
vultures, and other animals in the preserve's
ecosystem.[10]
^Angler, Martin.
"Dye and Poison Stop Rhino Poachers". Scientific American Blog Network. Archived from
the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2018. It is actually a mixture between the bright pink dye and an ectoparasiticide, which normally is used for protecting rhino against ticks. In this case, however, the purpose is not to protect the rhino against ticks but to poison rhino horn consumers. The purpose: Discouraging the (typically) Asian clients to buy the horn and to prevent poaching in the first place. If they consume RRP-treated horn powder, they will heavily suffer from nausea, stomach-ache and diarrhea.