The Acaridae are a

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

mite Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but genetic analysis does not show clear evid ...

s in order Sarcoptiformes.

Distribution

There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus'''', Sancassania'' and ''Tyrophagus''. There are even ''Tyrophagus'' found in

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest contine ...

and (spacecraft in)

low Earth orbit A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit around Earth with a period of 128 minutes or less (making at least 11.25 orbits per day) and an eccentricity less than 0.25. Most of the artificial objects in outer space are in LEO, with an altitude never mor ...

Ecology

Acaridae live in various habitats and have various diets. Many are generalists that live in natural (e.g. soil, litter, animal nests, decomposing plant material) and artificial (e.g. human dwellings, granaries, greenhouses, plant nurseries) environments. They feed on decomposing organic material,

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

and

nematodes The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhabiting a broa ...

. There are also more specialised acarids. Some ''Acarus'' inhabit nests of warm-blooded animals, mostly rodents and birds. Within ''Sancassania,'' there are species associated with certain bees, associated with scarabaeid beetles (riding phoretically on live beetles and feeding on dead beetles) or feeding on

mushrooms A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing Sporocarp (fungi), fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans. The standard for the na ...

. A lineage of ''Tyrophagus'', comprising ''T. formicetorum'' and related species, only occurs in ant nests. A number of ''Histiogaster'' species live beneath bark (subcortical) and feed on fungi.

Dispersal

Various Acaridae have a

phoretic Phoresis or phoresy is a non-permanent, commensalistic interaction in which one organism (a phoront or phoretic) attaches itself to another (the host) solely for the purpose of travel. Phoresis has been observed directly in ticks and mites s ...

deutonymph stage in their life cycle, a non-feeding nymph stage that can disperse to new habitats by riding on larger animals. Hyperphoresy (riding an animal which is itself riding a third animal) has also been reported, with acarid deutonymphs on a larger Uropodidae mite which in turn was on a beetle. Most ''Tyrophagus'' species do not form deutonymphs (except for the ''T. formicetorum'' lineage), instead dispersing as feeding life stages. They may disperse phoretically, by active movements or by air currents.

Pests

Some Acaridae species are stored product pests, such as ''Acarus siro'', ''A. farris, Tyrophagus putrescentiae,

Tyrophagus longior ''Tyrophagus longior'' is a mite in the family Acaridae. Description ''Tyrophagus longior'' is oval in shape and whitish to semitransparent in colour. It is covered dorsally in barbed setae. There are eight legs (six in larvae) that are light ...

'' and '' Tyrolichus casei''. These infest stored organic materials such as grains, flour,

dried fruit Dried fruit is fruit from which the majority of the original water content has been removed either naturally, through sun drying, or through the use of specialized dryers or dehydrators. Dried fruit has a long tradition of use dating back to th ...

, milk products,

hams Ham is pork from a leg cut that has been preserved by wet or dry curing, with or without smoking."Bacon: Bacon and Ham Curing" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 2, p. 39. As a processed meat, the term "ham ...

, cheeses,

straw Straw is an agricultural byproduct consisting of the dry stalks of cereal plants after the grain and chaff have been removed. It makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops such as barley, oats, rice, rye and wheat. It has a number ...

animal hides A hide or skin is an animal skin treated for human use. The word "hide" is related to the German word "Haut" which means skin. The industry defines hides as "skins" of large animals ''e.g''. cow, buffalo; while skins refer to "skins" of smaller an ...

, invertebrate culture media, vertebrate bedding materials and

animal feed Animal feed is food given to domestic animals, especially livestock, in the course of animal husbandry. There are two basic types: fodder and forage. Used alone, the word ''feed'' more often refers to fodder. Animal feed is an important input to ...

. They thrive in humid conditions and on damp materials. Acaridae can cause

dermatitis Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened. The area of skin involved can v ...

via piercing human skin (in attempts to feed) or via contact allergens. There are also Acaridae which are pests of living plants. These include the genus ''

Rhizoglyphus ''Rhizoglyphus'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae. It has a worldwide distribution and is often associated with the bulbs, corms or tubers of plants. Description and life cycle ''Rhizoglyphus'' begin their lives as whitish, ellipsoi ...

'' (pests of plants with bulbs) and the species ''T. longior'' (pest of some ornamental plants).

Genera

;Fagacarinae Fain & R. A. Norton, 1979 * '' Fagacarus'' Fain & R. A. Norton, 1979 ;Acarinae Nesbitt, 1945 * ''

Acarus ''Acarus'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae. Species * '' Acarus ananas'' (Tryon, 1898) * '' Acarus beschkovi'' (Mitov, 1994) * '' Acarus bomiensis'' Wang, 1982 * '' Acarus calcarabellus'' (Griffiths, 1965) * '' Acarus chaetoxysilos'' ...

'' Linnaeus, 1758 * '' Aleuroglyphus'' Zachvatkin, 1940 * ''

Ebertia ''Ebertia'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''Tyrophag ...

'' Oudemans, 1924 * '' Podoglyphus'' Oudemans, 1937 * '' Tyrolichus'' Oudemans, 1924 * '' Tyroglyphites'' Pampaloni, 1902 * '' Tyrophagus'' Oudemans, 1924 ;Rhizoglyphinae Zakhvatkin, 1941 * '' Acarotalpa'' Volgin, 1966 * ''

Acotyledon Acotyledon is used to refer to seed plants or spermatophytes that lack cotyledons, such as orchids and dodder. Orchid seeds are tiny with underdeveloped embryos. They depend on mycorrhizal fungi for their early nutrition so are myco-heterotrophs at ...

'' Oudemans, 1903 * '' Caloglyphus'' Berlese, 1923 * '' Cosmoglyphus'' Oudemans, 1932 * '' Froriepia'' Vitzthum, 1919 * '' Garsaultia'' Oudemans, 1916 * '' Histiogaster'' Berlese, 1883 * ''

Horstia ''Horstia'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''Tyrophag ...

'' Oudemans, 1905 * '' Mycetoglyphus'' Oudemans, 1932 * '' Myrmoglyphus'' Vitzthum, 1935 * ''

'' Claparédè, 1869 * '' Sancassania'' Oudemans, 1916 * '' Schwiebea'' Oudemans, 1916 * '' Stereoglyphus'' Berlese, 1923 * '' Thyreophagus'' Rondani, 1874 * '' Troglocoptes'' Fain, 1966 * '' Valmontia'' Oudemans, 1923 * '' Viedebanttia'' Oudemans, 1929 ;Pontoppidaniinae Oudemans, 1925 * '' Diphtheroglyphus'' Nesbitt, 1950 * '' Pontoppidania'' Oudemans, 1923 ;''

Incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...

'' * '' Aellenella'' S. Mahunka, 1978 * '' Apiacarus'' Volgin, 1974 * '' Amphicalvolia'' Türk, 1963 * '' Armacarus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Askinasia'' Yunker, 1970 * '' Australhypopus'' Fain & Friend, 1984 * '' Baloghella'' Mahunka, 1963 * '' Bembidioglyphus'' Klimov, 1998 * '' Boletacarus'' V. I. Volgin & S. V. Mironov, 1980 * '' Boletoglyphus'' Volgin, 1953 * '' Bromeliaglyphus'' H. H. J. Nesbitt, 1985 * '' Calvoliella'' Samsinak, 1969 * '' Calvoliopsis'' Mahunka, 1973 * '' Capillaroglyphus'' Klimov, 1998 * '' Carabidobius'' Volgin, 1953 * '' Cerophagopsis'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Chibidaria'' Sasa, 1952 * '' Contromelisia'' Samsinak, 1969 * '' Ctenocolletacarus'' Fain, 1984 * '' Diadasiopus'' OConnor, 1997 * '' Dynastopus'' Fain, 1978 * ''

Ewingia ''Ewingia'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''Tyrophag ...

'' Pearse, 1929 * '' Fainoglyphus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Forcellinia'' Oudemans, 1924 * '' Ghanacarus'' Mahunka, 1973 * '' Halictacarus'' Mahunka, 1975 * '' Heteroglyphus'' Foa, 1897 * '' Hoogstraalacarus'' Yunker, 1970 * '' Horstiella'' Türk, 1949 * '' Hortacarus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Hyohondania'' Sasa, 1952 * '' Irianopus'' Fain, 1986 * '' Kanekobia'' Fain, C. E. Yunker, J. van Goethem & D. E. Johnston, 1982 * '' Kargoecius'' Fain, 1985 * '' Konoglyphus'' Delfinado & Baker, 1974 * '' Kuzinia'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Lackerbaueria'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Lamtoglyphus'' Fain, 1975 * '' Lasioacarus'' Kadzhyaya, 1968 * '' Lemmaniella'' Mahunka, 1977 * '' Lindquistia'' Mahunka, 1977 * '' Lowryacarus'' Fain, 1986 * '' Machadoglyphus'' Mahunka, 1963 * '' Madaglyphus'' Fain, 1971 * '' Mahunkaglyphus'' Eraky, 1998 * '' Mahunkallinia'' Eraky, 1999 * '' Mauracarus'' S. Mahunka, 1978 * ''

Medeus ''Medeus'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''Tyrophagu ...

'' Volgin, 1974 * '' Megachilopus'' Fain, 1974 * '' Mezorhizoglyphus'' Kadzhaya, 1966 * '' Mycetosancassania'' Klimov, 2000 * '' Myrmolichus'' Türk & Türk, 1957 * '' Naiacus'' H. H. J. Nesbitt, 1990 * '' Naiadacarus'' Fashing, 1974 * '' Neoacotyledon'' K. Samsinak, 1980 * '' Neohorstia'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Neotropacarus'' Baker, 1985 * '' Notiopsyllopus'' Fain, 1977 * '' Ocellacarus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Olafsenia'' Oudemans, 1927 * '' Omentopus'' Fain, 1978 * '' Paraceroglyphus'' Fain & Beaucournu, 1979 * '' Paraforcellinia'' Kadzhaya, 1974 * '' Passaloglyphus'' Mahunka & Samsinak, 1972 * '' Paulacarellus'' Fain, 1976 * '' Pelzneria'' Scheucher, in Stammer 1957 * '' Pinoglyphus'' S. Mahunka, 1978 * '' Psyllacarus'' Fain, F. Bartholomaeus, B. Cooke & J. C. Beaucournu, 1990 * '' Psylloglyphus'' Fain, 1966 * '' Psyllopus'' Fain & J. C. Beaucournu, 1993 * '' Reckiacarus'' G. Kadzhaya, 1972 * '' Rettacarus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Rhizoglyphoides'' V. I. Volgin, 1978 * '' Rodionovia'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Scatoglyphus'' Berlese, 1913 * '' Schulzea'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Sennertionyx'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Setoglyphus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Sinolardoglyphus'' Z. T. Jiang, 1991 * ''Sinosuidasia'' Jiang, 1996 * ''Spinacaropus'' Fain & A. M. Camerik, 1978 * ''Terglyphus'' Samsinak, 1965 * ''Thectochloracarus'' Fain, Engel, Flechtmann & OConnor, 1999 * ''Trichopsyllopus'' Fain & G. T. Baker, 1983 * ''Troxocoptes'' Fain & J. R. Philips, 1983 * ''Umakefeq'' Klimov, 2000 * ''Volginia'' Kadzhaya, 1967

References

External links

* Stuart M. Bennett (2003)
''Acarus siro'' (Flour Mite)
{{Authority control Acaridae, Sarcoptiformes Acari families