Mesostigmata
Guides
Adenosejus
Adenosejus is a genus of mites in the family Sejidae, order Mesostigmata. It was described in 2004 by Lekveishvili and Krantz. The genus belongs to the cohort Sejina, a group of large, heavily sclerotized mites often associated with soil and decomposing organic matter. As a recently described genus with limited subsequent study, its biology and ecology remain poorly documented.
Antennophorina
Antennophorina is an infraorder of mites within Mesostigmata, comprising at least four families (Antennophoridae, Diplogyniidae, Euzerconidae, Megisthanidae) and over 20 described species. Members of this group are primarily symbionts of beetles, with documented associations to large carabid beetles and occasional records from tenebrionid beetles. The genus Micromegistus (family Parantennulidae) represents the best-studied element, inhabiting the subelytral space of host beetles in Australia and New Zealand.
Antennophoroidea
Antennophoroidea is a superfamily of mites within the order Mesostigmata, suborder Trigynaspida. Members of this group are primarily associated with insects, often exhibiting parasitic or phoretic relationships with ant, bee, and wasp hosts. The superfamily is characterized by specialized morphological adaptations for clinging to host antennae and other body parts. It represents a relatively small but ecologically distinctive lineage within the diverse mite fauna.
Blattisociidae
Blattisociidae is a family of predatory and fungivorous mites in the order Mesostigmata, historically grouped with Ascidae and Melicharidae due to morphological similarity. The family contains approximately 14 genera and occurs in diverse habitats including soil, stored products, insect nests, flowers, and fungi. Many species engage in phoresis, attaching to insects and other animals for dispersal. Several species have been investigated as potential biological control agents of pest mites and insects.
Celaenopsoidea
Celaenopsoidea is a superfamily of mites in the order Mesostigmata, suborder Trigynaspida. Members are primarily associated with arthropod hosts, particularly beetles. The group includes families such as Schizogyniidae, which exhibit specialized morphological adaptations including sexual dimorphism in mouthpart structures. These mites are generally small, poorly known, and frequently collected through host sampling rather than direct environmental sampling.
Dendrolaelaps
Dendrolaelaps is a genus of mites in the family Digamasellidae, first described in 1915. The genus contains more than 170 described species. At least one species, D. neodisetus, has been documented as nematophagous and associated with pine bark beetles.
Dermanyssina
Dermanyssina is a suborder of mesostigmatid mites characterized by adaptations for parasitic or phoretic lifestyles. Members exhibit diverse host associations, including beetles and earwigs. The suborder includes taxa with specialized morphological features for attachment to and transport by host organisms.
Dermanyssoidea
Dermanyssoidea is a superfamily of parasitiform mites (Mesostigmata) comprising 21 families, most of which are parasites of vertebrates. The superfamily exhibits exceptional morphological diversity reflecting varied parasitic strategies, from permanent ectoparasites to facultative nest-dwelling forms. Host associations span birds, rodents, bats, snakes, marine mammals, and honey bees. Parasitism has evolved independently at least eight times within the group. Some species are significant vectors of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and nematodes.
Digamasellus
Digamasellus is a genus of mesostigmatid mites in the family Digamasellidae, established by Berlese in 1905. The genus contains at least three described species: D. australis, D. punctum, and D. variabilis. Members of this genus are part of the diverse soil-dwelling mesostigmatid mite fauna. Specific biological details for most species remain poorly documented.
Dinychidae
Dinychidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata, belonging to the suborder Monogynaspida and infraorder Uropodina. The family comprises approximately 80 described species across 13 genera, with the genus Dinychus being the most species-rich. These mites are characterized by features typical of uropodine mites, including a generally rounded body form and adaptations for life in soil and decomposing organic matter. Species have been documented from Europe, Asia, and other regions, with records from countries including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Dinychus
Dinychus is a genus of mites in the family Dinychidae, order Mesostigmata. The genus was established by Kramer in 1886. Species have been recorded from northern regions including Canada, Alaska, and Scandinavia. A 1989 description of Dinychus ruseki from Canada noted close morphological similarity to D. micropunctatus from Alaska, suggesting possible ecospecies relationships.
Diplogyniidae
Diplogyniidae is a family of parasitic mites in the order Mesostigmata. Most species are associated with beetles, particularly passalid beetles (Coleoptera: Passalidae), histerid beetles (Histeridae), and scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae). Some species have been recorded from larger mammals, including rats. The family exhibits strong host specificity, with many species restricted to single host species, though exceptions such as Paradiplogynium nahmani occur across multiple hosts.
Epicriidae
Epicriidae is a family of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family is represented by four genera: Berlesiana, Cornubia, Diepicrius, and Epicrius. Most species diversity occurs in the genus Epicrius, which contains numerous described species distributed across Europe and other regions. These mites are soil-dwelling components of forest ecosystems.
Euryparasitus
Euryparasitus is a genus of mesostigmatid mites in the family Ologamasidae, established by Oudemans in 1902. The genus comprises approximately 15 described species worldwide, with four species documented in North America. North American species are distinguished by morphological characters of the deutonymphal instar, particularly the presence or absence of barbed setae on the idiosoma, serrations on the gnathotectum, and differentiation of the acrotarsus on leg I.
Eviphidoidea
Eviphidoidea is a superfamily of mites within the order Mesostigmata. These mites are primarily free-living predators or scavengers in soil and litter habitats. The group includes several families of gamasid mites that are morphologically distinguished by particular features of the gnathosoma and leg chaetotaxy. They are ecologically significant as components of soil microarthropod communities.
Fuscuropoda
uropodid mite
Fuscuropoda is a genus of predatory mites in the family Dinychidae (order Mesostigmata). The best-known species, Fuscuropoda vegetans, serves as a biological control agent in poultry facilities, where it preys on early-stage house fly larvae in manure. These mites occur naturally in most poultry operations and contribute to integrated pest management programs targeting fly populations.
Glyptholaspis
Glyptholaspis is a genus of macrochelid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) first described by Filipponi and Pegazzano in 1960. The genus comprises approximately 10 species worldwide, including G. fimicola (the type species), G. americana, and G. confusa. Species in this genus are associated with dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) via phoresy, using beetles for transport between dung microhabitats. Two species, G. americana and G. confusa, have been documented in Australia, while G. fimicola has been recorded from Bali, Indonesia.
Lobogynioides
Lobogynioides is a genus of mesostigmatic mites in the family Diplogyniidae. The genus is known from Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region. Members are associated with beetles through obligatory phoretic relationships and exhibit kleptoparasitic feeding behavior. The single well-documented species, L. andreinii, develops from egg to adult in 48–60+ days at 18–22°C.
Macronyssidae
Macronyssidae is a family of parasitic mites in the order Mesostigmata, established by Oudemans in 1936. Members are obligate ectoparasites of vertebrates, primarily infesting reptiles, birds, and mammals. The family includes economically significant pests such as the northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) and the tropical rat mite (Ornithonyssus bacoti), as well as the snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis). Macronyssids are hematophagous and have been documented as vectors of pathogens including Rickettsia and Bartonella species.
Megisthanus
Megisthanus is a genus of predatory mites in the family Megisthanidae, established by Thorell in 1882. The genus contains at least four described species: Megisthanus floridanus, M. jacobsoni, M. orientalis, and M. postsetosus. Members are classified within the order Mesostigmata, a group of mites that includes many predatory forms.
Megisthanus floridanus
Megisthanus floridanus is a mite species in the family Megisthanidae, order Mesostigmata. It is known from limited records, with 22 observations documented on iNaturalist. The species has been subject to taxonomic redescription, though detailed biological information remains sparse in accessible literature.
Neolobogynium
Neolobogynium is a genus of mesostigmatid mites in the family Diplogyniidae, established by Hicks in 1957. Members of this genus are small arachnids belonging to the order Mesostigmata, a diverse group of mites that includes many free-living and symbiotic species. Diplogyniidae mites are primarily associated with arthropod hosts, particularly beetles. The genus is distinguished from related genera by specific morphological features of the gnathosoma and leg chaetotaxy.
Parasitina
Parasitina is a suborder of predatory mites within the order Mesostigmata, characterized by relatively large body size for mites and typically yellowish to dark brown coloration. Members are free-living predators that actively hunt microarthropods and nematodes in soil and litter habitats. The suborder includes the family Parasitidae, which contains approximately 400 species across 29 genera in two subfamilies. Spermatogenesis involves complex cytoskeletal reorganization with distinct roles for F-actin and tubulin in nuclear shaping, acrosome formation, and flagellar development.
Parasitoidea
Parasitoidea is a superfamily of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata, containing the single family Parasitidae. These relatively large mites are found worldwide in soil, humus, and forest floor litter. They prey on microarthropods and nematodes, with individual species typically specializing on a narrower range of prey. The group contains approximately 400 species across 29 genera and two subfamilies.
Parholaspididae
Parholaspididae is a family of free-living predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata, containing 14 genera and approximately 163 described species. Members are distributed worldwide and occupy diverse terrestrial microhabitats. The family was established by Evans in 1956 and is classified within the superfamily Eviphidoidea.
Pergamasinae
Pergamasinae is a subfamily of predatory mites within the family Parasitidae, order Mesostigmata. Members are relatively large for mites and occupy soil and decomposing organic matter habitats. The subfamily includes genera such as Pergamasus and Holoparasitus, with distribution centered in Europe within the broader Holarctic region.
Pergamasus
Pergamasus is a genus of predatory mites in the family Parasitidae, comprising approximately 70 described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. These soil-dwelling gamasid mites inhabit forest litter, mosses, and upper soil layers, where they function as generalist predators of small invertebrates. Several species have been documented as predators of tick nymphs, suggesting potential ecological significance in tick population control. The genus exhibits notable morphological diversity, with species groups defined primarily by male genital and leg characters.
Phytoseiidae
predatory mites
Phytoseiidae is a large family of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata, comprising over 2,700 described species across 90 genera and three subfamilies (Amblyseiinae, Phytoseiinae, and Typhlodrominae). These mites are primarily recognized for their role as biological control agents against agricultural pests, particularly spider mites (Tetranychidae), thrips, and other small arthropods. Their effectiveness in integrated pest management programs has driven substantial research interest, with species such as Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus, and Amblyseius swirskii among the most widely studied and commercially deployed predatory mites.
biological-controlpredatory-mitesintegrated-pest-managementagricultural-acarologyspider-mite-predatorspollen-feedingintraguild-predationWolbachiaaugmentative-biocontrolconservation-biological-controldomatiaglandular-trichomespesticide-compatibilitymass-rearingTetranychidaeThysanopteraMesostigmatacrop-protectionsustainable-agriculturemite-ecologyPhytoseioidea
Phytoseioidea is a superfamily of mesostigmatic mites within the order Mesostigmata. It encompasses several families including Phytoseiidae (predatory mites widely used in biological control), Blattisociidae, Podocinidae, and the recently established Africoseiulellidae. Members exhibit considerable morphological diversity, with some genera showing highly specialized adaptations. The superfamily has been subject to ongoing taxonomic revision, with family-level boundaries being redefined based on comparative morphological analysis.
Platyseius
Platyseius is a genus of mesostigmatid mites first described by Berlese in 1916. The genus currently includes six described species distributed across multiple continents. Taxonomic placement has shifted over time, with the genus now classified in Blattisociidae (formerly placed in Ascidae). Species in this genus have been recorded from Europe, southern Africa, and Australia.
Podocinidae
Podocinidae is a family of free-living predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family comprises 38 species across three genera: Africoseius, Podocinella, and Podocinum. These mites are primarily soil and leaf litter inhabitants, with most species in the genus Podocinum. Their biology remains poorly known despite taxonomic documentation from multiple continents.
Podocinum
Podocinum is a genus of predatory mites in the family Podocinidae, order Mesostigmata. The genus contains more than 30 described species distributed across six continents. Species have been collected from diverse habitats including leaf litter and, in one documented case, from the fur of a wild rodent. The genus was established by Berlese in 1882 and has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, including the description of new species from China and the United States.
Poecilochirus
Carrion Beetle Mites
Poecilochirus is a Holarctic genus of relatively large mites (0.5–1 mm) in the family Parasitidae. They are phoretic symbionts of burying beetles (Silphidae: Nicrophorus), using beetles for transport to vertebrate carcasses where they feed and reproduce. The genus exhibits extensive cryptic diversity, with molecular studies identifying 24 genetic clusters potentially representing distinct species. Their interaction with beetle hosts is context-dependent, ranging from antagonistic (egg predation, competition) to potentially mutualistic (preying on fly eggs and nematodes).
Polyaspididae
Polyaspididae is a family of mites within the order Mesostigmata, infraorder Uropodina. The family includes at least 21 described species across three genera: Polyaspis (the most diverse), Calotrachys, and Dyscritaspis. Most species have been described from Europe, Asia, and Africa, with scattered records from North America. The group belongs to the superfamily Uropodoidea, a diverse assemblage of primarily soil-dwelling mites.
Polyaspinus
Polyaspinus is a genus of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The genus was established by Berlese in 1916 and currently includes at least eleven described species distributed across multiple continents. Taxonomic placement has varied between families Polyaspididae and Trachytidae in different classification systems. The genus shows a broad geographic distribution with records from South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Polyaspis
Polyaspis is a genus of mesostigmatid mites in the family Polyaspididae. The genus contains approximately six described species distributed across multiple continents. These mites belong to the diverse order Mesostigmata, which includes many free-living and parasitic species.
Rhodacaroidea
Rhodacaroidea is a superfamily of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata, comprising six families and over 900 described species worldwide. These mites are predominantly soil-dwelling, with highest abundance and diversity in soil and litter habitats. They have received attention as potential biological control agents due to their predatory habits. The group is among the more studied mesostigmatid superfamilies, though detailed biological and ecological knowledge remains limited for many species.
Sejidae
Sejidae is a family of mites within the order Mesostigmata. The group has a fossil record extending to the mid Cretaceous, with the oldest known specimen being an indeterminate deutonymph preserved in Burmese amber from Myanmar. As a family-level taxon, it encompasses multiple genera of predatory or free-living mites, though specific biological details for the family as a whole remain limited in available literature.
Sejus
Sejus is a genus of sejine mites in the family Sejidae, superfamily Sejoidea. The genus contains approximately 17 described species. Members of this genus exhibit a mixture of primitive and derived characters typical of the Sejoidea, including hypertrichy, a distinctive female sterno-genital region, and a phoretic deutonymph stage. Sejus species are generally distributed in warmer regions globally, though at least one species (S. americanus) extends into boreal zones.
Spinturnicidae
bat wing mites
Spinturnicidae is a family of hematophagous mites in the order Mesostigmata. All species are obligate ectoparasites of bats, living their entire life cycle on the host. They infest wing membranes, tail membranes, and occasionally eyelids and eye canthi. The family has a worldwide distribution in bat habitats and comprises 11 genera.
Trachyuropodidae
Trachyuropodidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata, classified within the suborder Monogynaspida and infraorder Uropodina. The family contains genera such as Leonardiella, with species documented from European and Asian localities including Turkey. Members are found in association with woody vegetation, particularly oak and willow habitats. The group belongs to the diverse assemblage of soil-dwelling and litter-inhabiting mites that contribute to decomposition processes.
Typhlodromus occidentalis
Typhlodromus occidentalis is a phytoseiid mite species specialized as an oligophagous predator of spider mites, particularly the twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Laboratory studies indicate it has an obligate feeding requirement during the larval stage—all larvae die without prey. The species exhibits distinctive behavioral patterns including high larval walking activity compared to related species, but the lowest deutonymphal activity among studied phytoseiids. Formerly classified under the genera Metaseiulus and Galendromus, this species has been subject to taxonomic revision. Its life history traits differ from polyphagous phytoseiid species, with longer larval stages and shorter deutonymphal stages.
Uropodella
Uropodella is a genus of mites in the family Uropodellidae, established by Berlese in 1888. The genus contains a single described species, Uropodella laciniata. These mites belong to the order Mesostigmata, a group of predatory or parasitic mites with diverse ecological roles.
Uropodellidae
Uropodellidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata, suborder Sejida. These mites belong to the superfamily Sejoidea. The family is small and poorly documented, with limited biological and ecological data available. Members are known from scattered records, and their taxonomy and natural history remain incompletely studied.
Uropodina
Uropodina is an infraorder of mites in the order Mesostigmata, characterized by morphologically variable forms with fused sternal and ventral shields, short legs with reduced setae, and stigmata positioned between the second and third leg pairs. Most species inhabit soil, forest litter, and decaying organic matter, where they function primarily as predators of small invertebrates. Many species exhibit phoresy during the deutonymph stage, attaching to insects and other arthropods for dispersal using a secreted elastic pedicel. Reproduction is predominantly sexual, though parthenogenesis occurs in some species with males rare or absent.
Veigaia
Veigaia is a genus of soil-dwelling mites in the family Veigaiidae (order Mesostigmata). The genus is one of the most ubiquitous in the Holarctic Region, with approximately 40 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America. Detailed behavioral studies exist for Veigaia cerva, which exhibits a complex five-phase oviposition process involving rhythmic gnathosomal movements and precise egg positioning using chelicerae and appendages.