Mesostigmata is an order of

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 belonging to the

Parasitiformes Parasitiformes are a superorder of Arachnids, constituting one of the two major groups of mites, alongside Acariformes. Parasitiformes has, at times, been classified at the rank of order or suborder. It is uncertain whether Parasitiformes and A ...

. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata includes

parasitic Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has c ...

as well as free-living and

predatory Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...

forms. They can be recognized by the single pair of

spiracle Spiracle or spiraculum may refer to: * Spiracle (arthropods), opening in the exoskeletons of some arthropods * Spiracle (vertebrates), openings on the surface of some vertebrates * Spiraculum, a genus of land snails in family Cyclophoridae Cycl ...

s positioned laterally on the body. The family with the most described species is

Phytoseiidae The Phytoseiidae are a family of mites which feed on thrips and other mite species. They are often used as a biological control agent for managing mite pests. Because of their usefulness as biological control agents, interest in Phytoseiidae has ...

. Other families of note are Diplogyniidae, Macrochelidae, Pachylaelapidae, Uropodidae and

Veigaiidae Veigaiidae is a family of mites belonging to the superorder Parasitiformes. However they are not parasitic but free-living and predator Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another org ...

. Amongst the best known species are ''

Varroa destructor ''Varroa destructor'', the ''Varroa'' mite is an ectoparasite, external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on the honey bees ''Apis cerana'' and ''Apis mellifera''. The disease caused by the mites is called varroosis. The ''Varroa'' mite can ...

'', an economically important parasite of honey bees, as well as the

red mite ''Dermanyssus gallinae'' (also known as the red mite) is a haematophagous ectoparasite of poultry. It has been implicated as a vector of several major pathogenic diseases. Despite its common names, it has a wide range of hosts including sever ...

(''Dermanyssus gallinae'') a parasite of poultry, most commonly chickens.

Description

Mesostigmata are mites ranging from 0.12-4 mm long (0.2-4 mm according to another source). They have a pair of stigmatal openings above legs III-IV usually associated with a peritrematal groove. The

gnathosoma The gnathosoma (from Greek , ' = "jaw" and , ' = "body") is the part of the body of the Acari (mites and ticks) comprising the mouth and feeding parts. These are the hypostome, the chelicerae and the pedipalps. It is also called the capitulum (howe ...

has a sclerotised ring around the bases of the

chelicerae The chelicerae () are the mouthparts of the subphylum Chelicerata, an arthropod group that includes arachnids, horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. Commonly referred to as "jaws", chelicerae may be shaped as either articulated fangs, or similarly ...

(basis capitulum). The

palps Pedipalps (commonly shortened to palps or palpi) are the second pair of appendages of chelicerates – a group of arthropods including spiders, scorpions, horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. The pedipalps are lateral to the chelicerae ("jaws") a ...

have 5 (rarely 4) free segments and usually a subdistal palp apotele. The chelicerae are 3-segmented. The subcapitulum usually has a median groove with transverse rows of 1-many denticles. There are usually bifurcate or membranous corniculi present. Except in some

species, a flagellate tritosternum is present. The coxae of the legs are freely articulating with the body. The intercoxal region has sternal and genital shield elements. Adults have a genital opening and either chelicerae modified for sperm transfer (if male) or a sperm-receiving structure (if female). The above description applies to adults. Larvae have six legs, instead of the eight possessed by later stages, and may or may not feed. There are two nymphal stages (protonymph, deutonymph) that usually have lightly sclerotized dorsal, intercoxal and ventral plates.

Ecology

Many Mesostigmata are free-living predators of invertebrates that live in soil and litter, on the soil surface or on plants. There are also some that live in freshwater. Other Mesostigmata are parasites of vertebrates or arthropods, pollen and nectar feeders in flowers, fungus feeders, or saprophages that subsist on dead or decaying organic matter. The soil-dwelling Mesostigmata are not as abundant as oribatids or prostigmatids that also occur in this habitat, but they are still ubiquitous in soil and may be important predators. Larger species tend to be predators of small arthropods or arthropod eggs, whereas smaller species prey on

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 ...

. Size of these mesostigmatans decreases with soil depth:

plant litter Plant litter (also leaf litter, tree litter, soil litter, litterfall or duff) is dead plant material (such as leaves, bark, needles, twigs, and cladodes) that have fallen to the ground. This detritus or dead organic material and its constituent ...

and

humus In classical soil science, humus is the dark organic matter in soil that is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter. It is a kind of soil organic matter. It is rich in nutrients and retains moisture in the soil. Humus is the Lati ...

have large species such as ''

Veigaia ''Veigaia'' is a genus of 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 gene ...

'' (

), the humus-soil interface has smaller species like ''

Dendrolaelaps ''Dendrolaelaps'' is a genus of mites in the family Digamasellidae. There are more than 170 described species in ''Dendrolaelaps''. See also * List of Dendrolaelaps species These 179 species belong to ''Dendrolaelaps'', a genus of mites in the ...

'' ( Digamasellidae) and the mineral soil has the tiny ''

Rhodacarellus ''Rhodacarellus'' is a genus of mites in the family Rhodacaridae Rhodacaridae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.Walter, David Evans, edRhodacaridae Species Listing Biology Catalog. Texas A&M University. Retrieved on August 27, 201 ...

'' (

Rhodacaridae Rhodacaridae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.Walter, David Evans, edRhodacaridae Species Listing Biology Catalog. Texas A&M University. Retrieved on August 27, 2010. Genera * '' Afrodacarellus'' Hulbutt, 1974 * '' Afrogamasellus' ...

). A few species are known from freshwater habitats, such as wet soil,

phytotelmata Phytotelma (plural phytotelmata) is a small water-filled cavity in a terrestrial plant. The water accumulated within these plants may serve as the habitat for associated fauna and flora. A rich literature in German summarised by Thienemann (19 ...

, waterside vegetation and sewage filter-beds. These appear to move by crawling as no species are known to swim. Some species are known to prey on

mosquito Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning " gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish for "li ...

eggs and one species was reared on a diet of nematodes. The parasitic Mesostigmata are mostly in superfamily

Dermanyssoidea Dermanyssoidea is a superfamily of mites, including most of the mites which parasitise vertebrates. Families Dermanyssoidea contains 21 families: * Dasyponyssidae *Dermanyssidae * Entonyssidae * Haemogamasidae *Halarachnidae * Hirstionyssid ...

. These include parasites of invertebrates (e.g. Varroidae) and of vertebrates (other families), as well as both ectoparasites (external) and endoparasites (internal).

Phoresy Phoresis or phoresy is a non-permanent, Commensalism, 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 Acari ...

, the temporary attachment of a smaller animal to a larger one for travel, is common in the Mesostigmata. For example, the freshwater species are phoretic on flies of families

Tipulidae Crane fly is a common name referring to any member of the insect family (biology), family Tipulidae. Cylindrotominae, Limoniinae, and Pediciinae have been ranked as subfamilies of Tipulidae by most authors, though occasionally elevated to family ...

Ceratopogonidae Ceratopogonidae is a family of flies commonly known as no-see-ums, or biting midges, generally in length. The family includes more than 5,000 species, distributed worldwide, apart from the Antarctic and the Arctic. Ceratopogonidae are holomet ...

, and Culicidae.

Economic importance

'' (Varroidae) is a major pest of

honey bees A honey bee (also spelled honeybee) is a eusocial flying insect within the genus ''Apis'' of the bee clade, all native to Afro-Eurasia. After bees spread naturally throughout Africa and Eurasia, humans became responsible for the current cosmo ...

. It harms bees both directly by feeding on

fat body 300px, Stained cells of an insect fat body Fat body is a highly dynamic insect tissue composed primarily of storage cells. It is distributed throughout the insect's internal body cavity; the haemocoel, in close proximity to the epidermis, dige ...

tissue, and indirectly by transmitting viruses. Similarly, the red mite (''

Dermanyssus gallinae ''Dermanyssus gallinae'' (also known as the red mite) is a haematophagous ectoparasite of poultry. It has been implicated as a vector of several major pathogenic diseases. Despite its common names, it has a wide range of hosts including severa ...

'') feeds on the blood of birds, including

poultry Poultry () are domesticated birds kept by humans for their eggs, their meat or their feathers. These birds are most typically members of the superorder Galloanserae (fowl), especially the order Galliformes (which includes chickens, quails, a ...

(

chickens The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adult m ...

turkeys The turkey is a large bird in the genus ''Meleagris'', native to North America. There are two extant turkey species: the wild turkey (''Meleagris gallopavo'') of eastern and central North America and the ocellated turkey (''Meleagris ocellat ...

ducks Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form t ...

) and wild birds. It reduces animal health, welfare and production. In agriculture, soil-dwelling mesostigmatans are important predators of nematodes,

springtails Springtails (Collembola) form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered insects (the other two are the Protura and Diplura). Although the three orders are sometimes grouped together in a class called Ent ...

and insect larvae, while plant-dwelling mesostigmatans control pests such as spider mites.

Evolution

The oldest known record of the group is an indeterminate

Sejidae Sejidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The oldest known record of the group is an indeterminate deutonymph from the mid Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) aged Burmese amber Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is ...

deutonymph from the mid-

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of th ...

(Albian-Cenomanian) aged

Burmese amber Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. The ...

of Myanmar.

Taxonomy

Taxonomy to families (Beaulieu 2011). Genus and species counts fluctuate over time. : Order Mesostigmata G. Canestrini, 1891 :: Suborder Monogynaspida Camin & Gorirossi, 1955 ::: Infraorder Gamasina Kramer, 1881 :::: Hyporder Arctacariae Johnston, 1982 ::::: Superfamily Arctacaroidea Evans, 1955 :::::: Family Arctacaridae Evans, 1955 (2 genera, 6 species) :::: Hyporder Dermanyssiae Evans & Till, 1979 ::::: Superfamily Ascoidea Voigts & Oudemans, 1905 :::::: Family Ameroseiidae Evans, 1961 (10 genera, 148 species) :::::: Family

Ascidae Ascidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. Description Ascidae are mites characterised by: seta ''st4'' usually on unsclerotised cuticle, peritrematic shield broadly connected to exopodal shield beside coxa IV, fixed cheliceral ...

Voigts & Oudemans, 1905 (17 genera, 338 species) :::::: Family

Melicharidae ''Melicharidae'' is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. Description Melicharidae are mites characterized by: podonotal and opisthonotal shields usually fused; the third pair of sternal lyrifissures (''iv3'') situated off sternal shiel ...

Hirschmann, 1962 (12 genera, 201 species) ::::: Superfamily

Kolenati, 1859 :::::: Family Dasyponyssidae Fonseca, 1940 (2 genera, 2 species) :::::: Family

Dermanyssidae Dermanyssidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. Genera *''Acanthonyssus'' Yunker & Radovsky ''in'' Wenzel & Tipton 1966 **''Acanthonyssus dentipes'' (Strandtmann & Eads, 1947) *'' Dermanyssus'' Dugès, 1834 **'' Dermanyssus ameri ...

Kolenati, 1859 (2 genera, 26 species) :::::: Family Entonyssidae Ewing, 1923 (9 genera, 27 species) :::::: Family Haemogamasidae Oudemans, 1926 (5 genera, 78 species) :::::: Family

Halarachnidae Halarachnidae is a small family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata in ...

Oudemans, 1906 (7 genera, 43 species) :::::: Family Hystrichonyssidae Keegan, Yunker & Baker, 1960 (1 genus, 1 species) :::::: Family Iphiopsididae Kramer, 1886 (14 genera, 68 species) :::::: Family Ixodorhynchidae Ewing, 1923 (6 genera, 43 species) :::::: Family Laelapidae Berlese, 1892 (90 genera, 1316 species) :::::: Family Larvamimidae Elzinga, 1993 (6 genera, 43 species) :::::: Family

Macronyssidae The Macronyssidae are a family of parasitic mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesost ...

Oudemans, 1936 (34 genera, 233 species) :::::: Family Manitherionyssidae Radovsky & Yunker, 1971 (1 genus, 1 species) :::::: Family Omentolaelapidae Fain, 1961 (1 genus, 1 species) :::::: Family

Rhinonyssidae Rhinonyssidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. There are about 16 genera and at least 460 described species in Rhinonyssidae. The mites of this family are obligate parasite An obligate parasite or holoparasite is a parasitic org ...

Trouessart, 1895 (8 genera, 510 species) :::::: Family Spelaeorhynchidae Oudemans, 1902 (1 genus, 7 species) :::::: Family

Spinturnicidae Spinturnicidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The mites are highly specialized parasites of wing or tail membrane or bats. Some species infest eyelids and eye canthi. The species of Spinturnicidae are found in bat habitats throug ...

Oudemans, 1901 (12 genera, 101 species) :::::: Family Varroidae Delfinado & Baker, 1974 (2 genera, 6 species) ::::: Superfamily Eviphidoidea Berlese, 1913 :::::: Family

Eviphididae Eviphididae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. Species '' Alliphis'' Halbert, 1923 * ''Alliphis ankavani'' Arutunian, 1992 * ''Alliphis bakeri'' Arutunian, 1992 * ''Alliphis brevisternalis'' Ma-Liming & Wang-Shenron, 19 ...

Berlese, 1913 (19 genera, 108 species) :::::: Family Leptolaelapidae Karg, 1978 (12 genera, 48 species) :::::: Family Macrochelidae Vitzthum, 1930 (20 genera, 470 species) :::::: Family Pachylaelapidae Berlese, 1913 (26 genera, 199 species) :::::: Family

Parholaspididae Parholaspididae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.Hallan, Joel, edParholaspididae Species Listing. Biology Catalog. Texas A&M University. Retrieved on August 27, 2010. Species '' Gamasholaspis'' Berlese, 1903 * ''Gamasholaspis akim ...

Evans, 1956 (12 genera, 96 species) ::::: Superfamily Phytoseioidea Berlese, 1916 :::::: Family

Blattisociidae Blattisociidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. Description Blattisociidae are mites with the following features: dorsal shield entire or laterally incised and with 18-43 pairs of setae; female with usually more than four pairs ...

Garman, 1948 (11 genera, 369 species) :::::: Family Otopheidomenidae Treat, 1955 (10 genera, 28 species) :::::: Family

Berlese, 1916 (90 genera, 2300 species) :::::: Family Podocinidae Berlese, 1913 (2 genera, 25 species) ::::: Superfamily Rhodacaroidea Oudemans, 1902 :::::: Family Digamasellidae Evans, 1957 (13 genera, 261 species) :::::: Family Halolaelapidae Karg, 1965 (4 genera, 80 species) :::::: Family Laelaptonyssidae Womersley, 1956 (1 genus, 6 species) :::::: Family

Ologamasidae Ologamasidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. There are more than 40 genera and 470 described species in Ologamasidae. Genera These 44 genera belong to the family Ologamasidae: * '' Acugamasus'' Lee, 1970 * '' Acuphis'' Karg, 19 ...

Ryke, 1962 (45 genera, 452 species) :::::: Family

Oudemans, 1902 (15 genera, 148 species) :::::: Family Teranyssidae Halliday, 2006 (15 genera, 148 species) ::::: Superfamily Veigaioidea Oudemans, 1939 :::::: Family

Oudemans, 1939 (4 genera, 95 species) :::: Hyporder Epicriiae Kramer, 1885 ::::: Superfamily Epicrioidea Berlese, 1885 :::::: Family

Epicriidae Epicriidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. Genera ''Berlesiana'' Türk, 1943 * ''Berlesiana cirrata'' (Berlese, 1916) ''Cornubia'' Türk, 1943 * ''Cornubia ornata'' Türk, 1943 ''Diepicrius'' Berlese, 1916 * ''Diepicrius parisien ...

Berlese, 1885 (4 genera, 48 species) ::::: Superfamily Heatherelloidea Walter, 1997 :::::: Family Heatherellidae Walter, 1997 (1 genus, 2 species) ::::: Superfamily Zerconoidea G. Canestrini, 1891 :::::: Family Coprozerconidae Moraza & Lindquist, 1999 (1 genus, 1 species) :::::: Family Zerconidae G. Canestrini, 1891 (36 genera, 390, species) :::: Hyporder Parasitiae Evans & Till, 1979 ::::: Superfamily Parasitoidea Oudemans, 1901 :::::: Family

Parasitidae Parasitidae is a family of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata that has worldwide distribution. They are the only family in the superfamily Parasitoidea. Relatively large for mites, their color is often yellowish to dark brown. The family a ...

Oudemans, 1901 (35 genera, 426 species) ::: Infraorder Uropodina Kramer, 1881 ::::: Family Dithinozerconidae Ainscough, 1979 :::: Superfamily Diarthrophalloidea Trägårdh, 1946 ::::: Family Diarthrophallidae Trägårdh, 1946 (22 genera, 63 species) :::: Superfamily Microgynioidea Trägårdh, 1942 ::::: Family Microgyniidae Trägårdh, 1942 (2 genera, 4 species) ::::: Family

Nothogynidae ''Nothogynus'' is a genus of mites placed in its own family, Nothogynidae, in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 specie ...

Walter & Krantz, 1999 (1 genus, 2 species) :::: Superfamily Thinozerconoidea Halbert, 1915 ::::: Family Protodinychidae Evans, 1957 (1 genus, 3 species) ::::: Family Thinozerconidae Halbert, 1915 (1 genus, 1 species) :::: Superfamily Uropodoidea Kramer, 1881 ::::: Family Baloghjkaszabiidae Hirschmann, 1979 (1 genus, 3 species) ::::: Family Brasiluropodidae Hirschmann, 1979 (2 genera, 18 species) ::::: Family Cillibidae Trägårdh, 1944 (2 genera, 19 species) ::::: Family Clausiadinychidae Hirschmann, 1979 (1 genus, 4 species) ::::: Family Cyllibulidae Hirschmann, 1979 (1 genus, 32 species) ::::: Family Deraiophoridae Trägårdh, 1952 (1 genus, 36 species) ::::: Family

Dinychidae Dinychidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata includes pa ...

Berlese, 1916 (1 genus, 34 species) ::::: Family Discourellidae Baker & Wharton, 1952 (1 genus, 76 species) ::::: Family Eutrachytidae Trägårdh, 1944 (1 genus, 36 species) ::::: Family Hutufeideriidae Hirschmann, 1979 (1 genus, 9 species) ::::: Family Kaszabjbaloghiidae Hirschmann, 1979 (1 genus, 6 species) ::::: Family Macrodinychidae Hirschmann, 1979 (4 genera, 22 species) ::::: Family Metagynuridae Balogh, 1943 (2 genera, 17 species) ::::: Family Nenteriidae Hirschmann, 1979 (2 genera, 128 species) ::::: Family

Oplitidae Oplitidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. Species * ''Cariboplitis'' Sellnick, 1963 ** ''Cariboplitis almerodai'' (Hiramatsu & Hirschmann, 1991) ** ''Cariboplitis daressalami'' (Wisniewski, 1980) ** ''Cariboplitis ellipsoides'' ...

Johnston, 1968 (8 genera, 163 species) ::::: Family Phymatodiscidae Hirschmann, 1979 (1 genus, 10 species) ::::: Family Polyaspididae Berlese, 1913 (1 genus, 16 species) ::::: Family Prodinychidae Berlese, 1917 (3 genera, 16 species) ::::: Family Rotundabaloghiidae Hirschmann, 1979 (4 genera, 165 species) ::::: Family Tetrasejaspidae Hirschmann, 1979 (1 genus, 15 species) ::::: Family Trachytidae Trägårdh, 1938 (7 genera, 108 species) ::::: Family Trachyuropodidae Berlese, 1917 (17 genera, 99 species) ::::: Family Trematuridae Berlese, 1917 (13 genera, 401 species) ::::: Family Trichocyllibidae Hirschmann, 1979 (5 genera, 57 species) ::::: Family Trichouropodellidae Hirschmann, 1979 (1 genus, 11 species) ::::: Family Trigonuropodidae Hirschmann, 1979 (1 genus, 87 species) ::::: Family Uroactiniidae Hirschmann & Zirngiebl-Nicol, 1964 (3 genera, 67 species) ::::: Family Urodiaspididae Trägårdh, 1944 (3 genera, 26 species) ::::: Family Urodinychidae Berlese, 1917 (13 genera, 267 species) ::::: Family Uropodidae Kramer, 1881 (9 genera, 261 species) :: Suborder Sejida Kramer, 1885 ::: Superfamily Heterozerconoidea Berlese, 1892 :::: Family Discozerconidae Berlese, 1910 (2 genera, 3 species) :::: Family Heterozerconidae Berlese, 1892 (7 genera, 13 species) ::: Superfamily Sejoidea Berlese, 1885 :::: Family Ichthyostomatogasteridae Sellnick, 1953 (3 genera, 10 species) :::: Family

Berlese, 1885 (5 genera, 46 species) (5 genera, 46 species) :::: Family Uropodellidae Camin, 1955 (1 genus, 6 species) :: Suborder

Trigynaspida Trigynaspida is a suborder of mites in the order Mesostigmata. There are more than 25 families and at least 90 described species in Trigynaspida. Families These 27 families belong to the suborder Trigynaspida: * Aenictequidae Kethley, 1977 * An ...

Camin & Gorirossi, 1955 ::: Infraorder

Antennophorina Antennophorina is a suborder of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata inclu ...

Camin & Gorirossi, 1955 :::: Superfamily Aenictequoidea Kethley, 1977 ::::: Family Aenictequidae Kethley, 1977 (1 genus, 1 species) ::::: Family Euphysalozerconidae Kim, 2008 (1 genus, 1 species) ::::: Family Messoracaridae Kethley, 1977 (2 genera, 3 species) ::::: Family

Ptochacaridae ''Ptochacarus'' is a genus of mites in its own family, Ptochacaridae, in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in ...

Kethley, 1977 (1 genus, 3 species) :::: Superfamily Antennophoroidea Berlese, 1892 ::::: Family Antennophoridae Berlese, 1892 (6 genera, 19 species) :::: Superfamily Celaenopsoidea Berlese, 1892 ::::: Family Celaenopsidae Berlese, 1892 (7 genera, 14 species) ::::: Family Costacaridae Hunter, 1993 (1 genus, 1 species) ::::: Family Diplogyniidae Trägårdh, 1941 (42 genera, 85 species) ::::: Family Euzerconidae Trägårdh, 1938 (12 genera, 24 species) ::::: Family

Megacelaenopsidae Megacelaenopsidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata incl ...

Funk, 1975 (2 genera, 2 species) ::::: Family Neotenogyniidae Kethley, 1974 (1 genus, 1 species) ::::: Family

Schizogyniidae Schizogyniidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata include ...

Trägårdh, 1950 (6 genera, 10 species) ::::: Family Triplogyniidae Funk, 1977 (2 genera, 11 species) :::: Superfamily Fedrizzioidea Trägårdh, 1937 ::::: Family Fedrizziidae Trägårdh, 1937 (3 genera, 34 species) ::::: Family Klinckowstroemiidae Camin & Gorirossi, 1955 (4 genera, 36 species) :::: Superfamily Megisthanoidea Berlese, 1914 ::::: Family Hoplomegistidae Camin & Gorirossi, 1955 (1 genus, 7 species) ::::: Family Megisthanidae Berlese, 1914 (1 genus, 30 species) :::: Superfamily Paramegistoidea Trägårdh, 1946 ::::: Family

Paramegistidae Paramegistidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata include ...

Trägårdh, 1946 (5 genera, 30 species) :::: Superfamily Parantennuloidea Willmann, 1941 ::::: Family

Parantennulidae Parantennulidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata includ ...

Willmann, 1941 (3 genera, 5 species) ::::: Family

Philodanidae Philodanidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata includes ...

Kethley, 1977 (2 genera, 2 species) ::::: Family

Promegistidae Promegistidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata includes ...

Kethley, 1977 (1 genus, 1 species) ::: Infraorder Cercomegistina Camin & Gorirossi, 1955 :::: Superfamily Cercomegistoidea Trägårdh, 1937 ::::: Family Asternoseiidae Vale, 1954 (2 genera, 3 species) ::::: Family Cercomegistidae Trägårdh, 1937 (5 genera, 13 species) ::::: Family Davacaridae Kethley, 1977 (2 genera, 4 species) ::::: Family

Pyrosejidae Pyrosejidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata includes p ...

Lindquist & Moraza, 1993 (2 genera, 3 species) ::::: Family

Saltiseiidae Saltiseiidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata includes ...

Walter, 2000 (1 genus, 1 species) ::::: Family

Seiodidae Seiodidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata includes par ...

Kethley, 1977 (1 genus, 1 species) ; Other :'' Meliponopus palpifer'' Fain & Flechtmann, 1985 has not yet been placed into a family.

References

* * NCBI
Mesostigmata

External links

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Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a teaching, research and Extension scientific organization focused on agriculture and natural resources. It is a partnership of federal, state, and county governmen ...

''Featured Creatures'' website {{Taxonbar, from=Q1240844 Arachnid orders