Caeculidae
Berlese, 1883
rake-legged mites
Genus Guides
2- Caeculus(rake-legged mites)
- Procaeculus
Caeculidae, commonly called rake-legged mites, is a of large prostigmatic mites (750–3000 µm) and the sole family of the superfamily Caeculoidea. The family contains approximately 100 described in seven distributed worldwide, with the oldest fossil records dating to the Cenomanian (approximately 100 million years ago) in Burmese amber. These mites are specialized ambush of arid environments, using modified forelegs to capture prey.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Caeculidae: /siːˈkjuːlɪdiː/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Distinguished from other prostigmatic mites by the presence of elongated, thickened spiniform setae on leg I, which function as structures for prey capture. These 'rake-like' forelegs are a synapomorphy of the . Additional diagnostic features include the presence of different-sized claws on leg I and absence of bothridia in the of legs in some (e.g., Neocaeculus).
Images
Habitat
Arid and semi-arid environments including rocky substrates, sandy soils, and open exposed soil surfaces with thin hardened crusts. Specific documented include cold semi-arid steppe (BSk) climate zones with brown chernozem soils, coulee slopes, and disturbed plains with non-native vegetation.
Distribution
Worldwide distribution across arid and semi-arid regions. Most of the Caeculus occur in North America; the genus Neocaeculus was previously known from the Australian Region (9 species) and Argentina, with recent records from Brazil. Canadian records include Alberta and southern inland British Columbia. Fossil specimens known from Cretaceous (Burmese amber), Eocene, and Miocene deposits.
Seasonality
Active during the hottest part of the day; one observed active between 13:45–15:30 at temperatures ≥ 32°C.
Diet
Small arthropods including collembolans.
Life Cycle
The first fossil larva of Caeculidae was recently described from approximately 100-million-year-old Kachin amber, indicating the has maintained similar morphologies over this time period.
Behavior
Ambush using spiniform setae on legs I for raking prey. Individuals are camouflaged against rocky or sandy substrates and remain motionless until prey approaches.
Ecological Role
of small arthropods in arid and semi-arid .
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- A new species ofMicrocaeculusfrom Australia (Acarina: Caeculidae), with notes on its biology and behavior
- A new species of rake-legged mite Neocaeculus (Acari, Caeculidae) from Brazilian semiarid and new data on distribution of Andocaeculus caioi
- A new species of rake-legged mite, Caeculus cassiopeiae (Prostigmata, Caeculidae), from Canada and a systematic analysis of its genus
- Quantitative morphological comparison of rake-legged mites over the last 100 million years and the first fossil larva of Caeculidae