Astigmata
Guides
Acaridae
Stored Products Mites, Mold Mites, Grain Mites
Acaridae is a family of mites in the order Sarcoptiformes, commonly known as stored products mites or mold mites. The family includes over 400 species across multiple genera, with cosmopolitan distributions. Many species are generalists inhabiting both natural environments (soil, litter, animal nests, decomposing plant material) and artificial environments (human dwellings, granaries, greenhouses). Several genera contain significant agricultural and stored product pests, including *Acarus*, *Tyrophagus*, and *Rhizoglyphus*, which cause economic damage to crops, bulbs, and stored foodstuffs.
Algophagidae
Algophagidae is a family of astigmatid mites containing approximately 5 genera and at least 10 described species. Members inhabit specialized microhabitats including tree sap fluxes, water-filled treeholes, and sub-Antarctic moss or algal beds. Several species exhibit complex life histories with facultative deutonymph stages that may be phoretic or non-phoretic depending on environmental conditions. The family shows notable morphological plasticity related to habitat occupation.
Analgoidea
feather mites
Analgoidea is a superfamily of mites in the order Sarcoptiformes, comprising feather mites that live as permanent ectosymbionts on birds. Members occupy specific microhabitats on host plumage, with distributions influenced by feather morphology, aerodynamic forces, and host behavior. The superfamily includes approximately 15 families and shows high host specificity, with multiple species often coexisting on individual birds through niche partitioning.
Avenzoariidae
feather mites
Avenzoariidae is a family of feather mites in the order Astigmata, comprising at least 15 genera. These mites are ectoparasites or commensals inhabiting the feathers of birds, with documented associations primarily involving aquatic birds including seabirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. One species has been recorded from birds of prey. The family includes subfamilies such as Bonnetellinae and Pteronyssinae, with genera including Zachvatkinia and Zygepigynia.
Chaetodactylus
Chaetodactylus is a genus of parasitic mites in the family Chaetodactylidae containing over 20 species. These mites are obligate associates of solitary bees, primarily in the families Megachilidae and Anthophoridae. They are kleptoparasites that consume pollen and nectar provisions intended for bee larvae, and frequently kill developing bee larvae through direct attack. The genus exhibits a complex life cycle involving two distinct deutonymph stages: a phoretic form that disperses on adult bees and an inert, cyst-like non-phoretic form that survives in nest cavities to infest subsequent host generations. Several species have become significant pests in managed pollinator systems, particularly in orchard pollination operations using Osmia bees.
Epidermoptidae
Epidermoptidae is a family of acariform mites in the order Sarcoptiformes. Members are permanent ectoparasites of birds and mammals, inhabiting skin surfaces and subcutaneous tissues. Several species are nostril specialists. Some genera have evolved phoretic associations with louse flies (Hippoboscidae), and certain species hyperparasitise these carriers, using them for oviposition and feeding. The family shows broad geographic distribution with records from Europe, North America, Australia, and the Galápagos Islands.
Freyanidae
Freyanidae is a family of feather mites in the order Astigmata, comprising more than 15 genera. Members of this family are ectoparasites or commensals associated with the plumage of birds. They inhabit the feather microenvironment of avian hosts, where they feed on feather materials and associated organic debris. The family is part of the superfamily Pterolichoidea within the mite order Sarcoptiformes.
Glycyphagidae
glycyphagid mites, storage mites
Glycyphagidae is a family of mites in the order Sarcoptiformes (Astigmata), comprising more than 25 genera and approximately 100 described species. Many species are associated with nests of rodents, insectivores, opossums, and birds, while others have become pests of stored food products and human dwellings. Several species, including *Glycyphagus domesticus* and *Lepidoglyphus destructor*, are economically significant as stored grain pests and sources of allergens.
Glycyphagus
Grocer's Itch Mites
Glycyphagus is a genus of astigmatid mites in the family Glycyphagidae, commonly known as grocer's itch mites. Species in this genus inhabit diverse environments including animal nests, stored products, house dust, and hay. They feed on organic debris and can disperse via phoresy on insects or air currents. Some species are significant pests of stored grain and household materials.
Hemisarcoptoidea
Hemisarcoptoidea is a superfamily of mites within the order Sarcoptiformes, established by Oudemans in 1908. This group comprises several families of astigmatid mites, including the family Hemisarcoptidae. Members of this superfamily are generally small, soft-bodied arachnids with reduced sclerotization. The group has been documented in ecological studies, particularly regarding associations with insects and other arthropods.
Histiostomatoidea
Histiostomatoidea is a superfamily of mites within the suborder Astigmata (Sarcoptiformes). Members are characterized by highly modified mouthparts adapted for feeding on decomposing organic matter and associated microorganisms. The group includes families such as Histiostomatidae and Guanolichidae. Many species exhibit phoretic relationships with insects, using carriers for dispersal.
Psoroptidae
Scab Mite
Psoroptidae is a family of parasitic mites in the order Sarcoptiformes. Members are 1–2 mm in length and inhabit the surface of host skin rather than burrowing into it. The family includes economically important genera such as Psoroptes, Chorioptes, and Otodectes, which cause mange and skin disease in mammals. Host associations span domestic animals (sheep, cattle, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits) and wildlife including African monkeys and various bird species.
Sarcoptidae
Itch Mites
Sarcoptidae is a family of parasitic mites in the order Sarcoptiformes, commonly known as itch mites. The family includes the genus Sarcoptes, whose members cause sarcoptic mange in mammals. These mites are obligate parasites that burrow into host skin, causing intense pruritus, crusting lesions, and potentially fatal secondary infections. Sarcoptes scabiei, the most studied species, infests over 200 million humans worldwide and numerous domestic and wild mammal species.
parasitemitescabiesmangezoonosisveterinarywildlife-diseaseneglected-tropical-diseaseburrowingepidermal-parasitedirect-life-cyclehost-specific-strainsimmunologyemerging-infectious-diseasebiodiversity-threatcross-species-transmissionferal-dog-reservoirquantitative-surveillancetissue-digestion-protocolivermectin-treatmentcrusted-scabiesordinary-scabiespruritusalopeciahyperkeratosissecondary-bacterial-infectionWHO-neglected-tropical-diseaseover-200-million-human-casesmammalian-host-specificityAstigmataSarcoptiformesArachnidaAcariWinterschmidtiidae
Winterschmidtiidae is a family of over 140 mite species in the order Astigmata, distributed worldwide. The family comprises four subfamilies with distinct ecological specializations: Ensliniellinae associated with Hymenoptera (especially wasps and bees), Winterschmidtiinae with wood-boring beetles, Saproglyphinae with decaying materials and fungi, and Oulenziinae with leaves, vertebrate nests, and stored foods. Many species exhibit complex life cycles synchronized with insect hosts, including phoretic deutonymphs for dispersal and seasonal polymorphisms for environmental resistance.