Anystina
Anystina
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Arachnida
- Subclass: Acari
- Superorder: Acariformes
- Order: Trombidiformes
- Suborder: Prostigmata
- Infraorder: Anystina
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Anystina: /ˌænɪˈstaɪnə/
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Summary
Prostigmata is a diverse suborder of mites known for their varied lifestyles, covering categories from plant parasites to aquatic dwellers and soil inhabitants. They serve crucial ecological roles though some are notorious agricultural pests.
Physical Characteristics
Prostigmata are usually 0.1–2 mm long, though some giant red velvet mites can reach 16 mm. They exhibit a variety of body forms and colors, typically having eight legs (six in the larval stage). Eriophyoidea, a group within Prostigmata, have four legs positioned at the front of a long, worm-like body.
Identification Tips
The name 'Prostigmata' derives from the presence of spiracles (stigmata) on the prodorsum, usually positioned between the chelicerae or on its lateral margins. The body shape, leg count (four legs in Eriophyoidea versus eight in others), and size can help identify different Prostigmata species.
Habitat
Prostigmata inhabit a diverse array of environments, including soil (agricultural fields, burned prairies, tidal marshlands), freshwater bodies (lakes, streams), marine environments, caves, mosses, lichens, and on shrubs and trees.
Distribution
Various species of Prostigmata are distributed globally, found in all habitats mentioned above, from aquatic environments to terrestrial ecosystems.
Diet
Prostigmata possess diverse diets that include predatory, herbivorous, fungivorous, microbivorous, and parasitic species. Soil-dwelling species often prey on nematodes or feed on fungi.
Life Cycle
Many Prostigmata undergo an incomplete metamorphosis, leading from egg to larva (six legs) and then to nymph and adult stages (eight legs). Life cycles can vary significantly among subfamilies, with some switching diets or habitats as they mature.
Reproduction
Prostigmata generally reproduce sexually, with males and females engaging in mating behaviors; the specific details can vary widely across different superfamilies and families.
Predators
Natural predators of Prostigmata include larger predatory mites and other arthropods that feed on smaller mites or their larval forms.
Ecosystem Role
Prostigmata are essential components of soil and aquatic ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling and serving roles in pest control as predators.
Economic Impact
Some Prostigmata are significant agricultural pests, such as spider mites and gall mites, affecting crops and plant health.
Health Concerns
Certain Prostigmata, such as chiggers from the family Trombiculidae, can cause skin irritations and diseases in humans and other vertebrates.
Collecting Methods
- Soil sampling
- Hand collection from plants
- Use of aspirators in various habitats
Preservation Methods
- Drying specimens
- Using ethanol or isopropanol for small mites
- Immersing in preservation fluid
- Freezing if immediate study is not possible
Evolution
Prostigmata display a complex evolutionary history with discrepancies in phylogenetic classification, particularly regarding their relationships with other acariform mites.
Misconceptions
People often conflate all mites as harmful without recognizing that many kinds of Prostigmata play beneficial roles in ecosystems, including pest control and decomposition.
Tags
- mites
- Prostigmata
- ecology
- agriculture
- parasites
- predators