Tarsonemidae is 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, also called thread-footed mites or white mites. Only a limited number of tarsonemid genera (''

Steneotarsonemus ''Steneotarsonemus'' is a genus of plant-feeding mites. Taxonomy Selected species (35) include; * ''Steneotarsonemus laticeps ''Steneotarsonemus laticeps'', the bulb scale mite, is a species of mite in the family Tarsonemidae, the white mi ...

'', '' Polyphagotarsonemus'', '' Phytonemus'', '' Floridotarsonemus'' and ''

Tarsonemus ''Tarsonemus'' is a genus of trombidiform mites within the family Tarsonemidae. Description Adult ''Tarsonemus'' can be recognised by (among other features) simple unmodified setae on the dorsal idiosoma, two pairs of setae on the metapodosom ...

'') are known to feed on

higher plants Vascular plants (), also called tracheophytes () or collectively Tracheophyta (), form a large group of land plants ( accepted known species) that have lignified tissues (the xylem) for conducting water and minerals throughout the plant. They ...

while most species in this family feed on the thin-walled

mycelia Mycelium (plural mycelia) is a root-like structure of a fungus consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. Fungal colonies composed of mycelium are found in and on soil and many other substrates. A typical single spore germinates in ...

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 ...

or possibly

algal Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...

bodies. Even among the plant-feeding tarsonemid mites, most are confined to areas of new growth where

cell wall A cell wall is a structural layer surrounding some types of cells, just outside the cell membrane. It can be tough, flexible, and sometimes rigid. It provides the cell with both structural support and protection, and also acts as a filtering mech ...

s are thin and therefore easily pierced. However two species (the "broad mite" ''

Polyphagotarsonemus latus The broad mite, ''Polyphagotarsonemus latus'' (Acari: Tarsonemidae), is a microscopic species of mite found on many species of plants, including important agricultural species such as grapes, apples, and other fruits. Broad mites are also current ...

'' and the "cyclamen mite" '' Steneotarsonemus pallidus'') are able to feed on older leaves because of their ability to inject

toxin A toxin is a naturally occurring organic poison produced by metabolic activities of living cells or organisms. Toxins occur especially as a protein or conjugated protein. The term toxin was first used by organic chemist Ludwig Brieger (1849– ...

s during feeding (presumably of

salivary gland The salivary glands in mammals are exocrine glands that produce saliva through a system of ducts. Humans have three paired major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual), as well as hundreds of minor salivary glands. Salivary gla ...

origin) causing an increase of thin walled cells surrounding feeding sites. This proliferation of new growth often results in leaves that appear stunted, puckered and twisted.

Taxonomy

Subdivision

* Subfamily Pseudotarsonemoidinae ** Tribe Tarsonemellini ** Tribe Pseudotarsonemoidini * Subfamily Acarapinae ** Tribe Coreitarsonemini * Subfamily Tarsoneminae ** Tribe Hemitarsonemini ** Tribe Steneotarsonemini ** Tribe Tarsonemini ** Tribe Pseudacarapin

Selected genera

* '' Acarapis'' * '' Floridotarsonemus'' * '' Phytonemus'' * '' Polyphagotarsonemus'' * ''

'' * ''

Control

While little pest management research has been done on the majority of tarsonemid species, comprehensive studies have been made into the biological and chemical control of the cyclamen mite and the broad mite. Chemical trials demonstrated that

endosulfan Endosulfan is an off-patent organochlorine insecticide and acaricide that is being phased out globally. It became a highly controversial agrichemical due to its acute toxicity, potential for bioaccumulation, and role as an endocrine disruptor. ...

and dicofol consistently reduced densities of ''P. latus'' and ''S. pallidus'', and planting stock can be effectively decontaminated through

fumigation Fumigation is a method of pest control or the removal of harmful micro-organisms by completely filling an area with gaseous pesticides—or fumigants—to suffocate or poison the pests within. It is used to control pests in buildings (s ...

with

methyl bromide Bromomethane, commonly known as methyl bromide, is an organobromine compound with formula C H3 Br. This colorless, odorless, nonflammable gas is produced both industrially and biologically. It has a tetrahedral shape and it is a recognized ozon ...

1,2-dibromoethane 1,2-Dibromoethane, also known as ethylene dibromide (EDB), is an organobromine compound with the chemical formula . Although trace amounts occur naturally in the ocean, where it is formed probably by algae and kelp, it is mainly synthetic. It is a ...

. Three entomogenous fungi, ''

Beauveria bassiana ''Beauveria bassiana'' is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and acts as a parasite on various arthropod species, causing white muscardine disease; it thus belongs to the entomopathogenic fungi. It is used as a biological ...

'', ''

Metarhizium anisopliae ''Metarhizium robertsii'' formerly known as ''M. anisopliae'', and even earlier as ''Entomophthora anisopliae'' (basionym) is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and causes disease in various insects by acting as a paras ...

'', and '' Paecilomyces fumosoroseus'', can effectively manage broad mite infestations, with ''B. bassiana'' providing the greatest reduction. Predatory

phytoseiid 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 ...

mites, in the genus ''

Neoseiulus ''Neoseiulus'' is a genus of mites in the Phytoseiidae The Phytoseiidae are a family (biology), 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 ...

'', can also successfully control ''P. latus'' and ''S. pallidus'' under

greenhouse A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse, or, if with sufficient heating, a hothouse) is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of Transparent ceramics, transparent material, such as glass, in which plants requiring regulated climatic condit ...

and field conditions.

References

External links

* Joel Hallan's Biology Catalog
Tarsonemidae
on the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...

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
Dr. Eddie Ueckermann. TAXONOMY OF TARSONEMIDAE. ARC
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4357993 Trombidiformes Acari families