Mites
Guides
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.
Desmonomata
Desmonomata is an infraorder of oribatid mites (beetle mites) within the suborder Oribatida. The group is notable for its exceptionally high incidence of thelytokous parthenogenesis: four of seven families are completely female-producing, and a fifth is nearly so. This reproductive mode appears obligate and ancient, with speciation and evolutionary radiation having occurred without biparental reproduction.
Digamasellidae
Digamasellidae is a family of mesostigmatid mites containing 11 recognized genera. Members are primarily found in subcortical habitats, including bark beetle galleries and decaying wood. At least some species are nematophagous, feeding on nematodes. The family is distributed across Europe and has been recorded in association with pine bark beetles.
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.
Dinothrombium
Giant Velvet Mites, Red Velvet Mites
Dinothrombium is a genus of large predatory mites in the family Trombidiidae, commonly called giant velvet mites. Adults are among the largest mites in the world, with some species reaching 12–14 mm in body length. They are fossorial, spending most of their lives underground in soil or sand, and emerge only after heavy rainfall. Their bright red coloration appears to serve an aposematic function, warning predators of their chemical defenses.
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.
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.
Eleutherengona
Eleutherengona is an infraorder of mites within the suborder Prostigmata (Trombidiformes). This group includes permanent ectoparasites of mammals, with the family Myobiidae being a well-documented representative. Members are highly specialized for life in mammalian fur and have been recorded from bats, rodents, opossums, and shrews.
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.
Ereynetidae
Ereynetidae is a family of prostigmatid mites in the superfamily Tydeoidea. The family includes at least two genera, with the genus Riccardoella comprising eight species. Six Riccardoella species are obligate parasites of terrestrial gastropods, inhabiting the pallial cavity and lungs of land snails, while two species are free-living in soil. Riccardoella limacum is known to cause significant problems in edible snail farming. The family's placement within the supercohort Eupodides remains uncertain based on molecular phylogenetic studies.
Eriophyidae
Gall and Rust Mites, Gall Mites, Four-legged Mites
Eriophyidae is a family of microscopic plant-parasitic mites comprising over 200 genera and approximately 3,600 described species, though estimates suggest the actual diversity may exceed 100,000 species. Members are commonly known as gall mites or rust mites due to their propensity to induce gall formation or cause rust-like discoloration on host plants. These mites possess worm-like bodies with only two pairs of legs, distinguishing them from most other mites. They are obligate parasites of vascular plants with high host specificity, typically specializing on single plant species or genera. The family includes significant agricultural pests such as the coconut mite (Aceria guerreronis), garlic mite (Aceria tulipae), and bermudagrass mite (Aceria cynodoniensis), as well as species used for biological control of weeds.
Eriophyoidea
gall mites, four-legged mites, blister mites, bud mites, rust mites
Eriophyoidea is a superfamily of minute, worm-like mites comprising three families: Eriophyidae, Phytoptidae, and Diptilomiopidae. These mites are exclusively plant-feeding and represent one of the largest adaptive radiations of plant-parasitic arthropods, with conservative estimates of 100,000 living species. They are distinguished by possessing only two pairs of legs in all post-embryonic stages—a unique feature among mites—and by their elongated, annulate bodies. Many species are significant agricultural pests causing galls, leaf deformities, and transmitting plant diseases, while others cause no apparent damage to their hosts.
Erythracaridae
Erythracaridae is a family of mites in the order Trombidiformes, first described by Oudemans in 1936. The family comprises nine accepted genera including Erythracarus, Tarsotomus, and Tarsolarkus. These mites belong to the superfamily Anystoidea and are classified within the infraorder Anystina.
Erythraeidae
Erythraeidae is a family of predatory mites in the order Trombidiformes. Adults are free-living, fast-running predators with long legs adapted for pursuit. Larvae are ectoparasites of various arthropods, including harvestmen, spiders, bees, and grasshoppers, using a stylostome to feed on host body fluids. These mites are typically oval, relatively large for mites, reddish in color, and densely hairy. The family belongs to the superfamily Erythraeoidea within the diverse group Parasitengona, which includes velvet mites, chiggers, and water mites.
Erythraeinae
Erythraeinae is a subfamily of mites within Erythraeidae comprising 26 genera. Larvae are parasitic on other arthropods, while nymphs and adults are free-living predators of small insects. The subfamily exhibits substantial morphological differences between parasitic larvae and free-living active stages. Members have been documented across multiple continents with notable diversity in China.
Erythraeoidea
Long-legged Velvet Mites
Erythraeoidea is a superfamily of mites commonly known as long-legged velvet mites, characterized by extremely elongated legs relative to body size. Members exhibit a complex life cycle involving distinct morphological and behavioral phases: post-larval stages (deutonymph and adult) are active predators, while the six-legged larval stage is parasitic on arthropod and vertebrate hosts. This superfamily belongs to the infraorder Anystina within the order Trombidiformes. The group has a fossil record extending to at least the Cretaceous period, with specimens preserved in amber documenting ancient host-parasite relationships.
Erythraxus
Erythraxus is a genus of mites in the family Erythraeidae, established by Southcott in 1961. These mites belong to the order Trombidiformes, a diverse group of arachnids commonly known as "true mites." Members of the family Erythraeidae are typically predatory in their active post-larval stages, though specific details about Erythraxus biology remain poorly documented. The genus is rarely encountered in scientific literature and field observations.
Estelloxus
Estelloxus is a genus of mites in the family Lebertiidae, order Trombidiformes. The genus was established by Habeeb in 1963 and belongs to the superfamily Lebertioidea. Members of this genus are predatory or parasitic mites associated with freshwater or semi-aquatic habitats. The genus is poorly known, with limited published information on species diversity and biology.
Euphthiracaroidea
Euphthiracaroidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites within the infraorder Mixonomata, established by Jacot in 1930. It comprises several families including Euphthiracaridae, Synichotritiidae, and Oribotritiidae. Members of this group are primarily known from leaf litter habitats in tropical and subtropical regions, with documented diversity in Southeast Asia including Thailand.
Eupodes
Eupodes is a genus of prostigmatid mites in the family Eupodidae, first described by C. L. Koch in 1835. The genus contains at least 58 described species distributed across all continents except South America, with notable diversity in Antarctica, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Species inhabit varied environments including maritime Antarctic regions, temperate zones, and tropical localities.
Eupodidae
Eupodidae is a family of mites in the order Trombidiformes, comprising at least 11 genera and 110 described species. The family includes economically significant agricultural pests, notably Halotydeus destructor (redlegged earth mite) and Penthaleus major (blue oat mite), as well as species adapted to extreme environments including Antarctica. Members occupy diverse habitats ranging from agricultural lands to polar regions.
Eupodoidea
Eupodoidea is a superfamily of soft-bodied mites in the order Trombidiformes, comprising approximately nine families and over 160 described species. These mites are primarily terrestrial and occur across diverse environments from temperate grasslands to polar regions. The superfamily exhibits varied feeding strategies, including fungivory, phytophagy, and predation. Some species are economically significant as agricultural pests.
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.
Eustigmaeus
Eustigmaeus is a diverse genus of mites in the family Stigmaeidae containing more than 130 species with worldwide distribution across all zoogeographic regions except Antarctica. Species within this genus exhibit complex life cycles that may include an unusual tritonymphal stage, a trait documented in only two species within the family. Some species are associated with moss as a food source, while at least one species, E. johnstoni, has been recorded as an ectoparasite of sand flies. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features including specific arrangements of dorsal setae and shield structures.
Eutrombidiinae
Eutrombidiinae is a subfamily of mites in the family Microtrombidiidae, order Trombidiformes. These are prostigmatid mites belonging to the diverse and ecologically important group Parasitengona, which includes many predatory and parasitic species. The subfamily has been documented across multiple continents with over 350 observations recorded. Members are generally small arachnids with the characteristic two-segmented body plan of mites.
Euzetidae
Euzetidae is a family of oribatid mites (order Sarcoptiformes) that is currently treated as a synonym of Ceratozetidae. The family was established to accommodate certain genera of moss mites, but taxonomic revisions have subsumed it under the broader Ceratozetidae concept. Records indicate presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
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.
Eylaidae
Eylaidae is a family of mites in the order Trombidiformes, suborder Prostigmata. The family contains at least one genus, Eylais, with approximately six described species. These mites are classified within the superfamily Eylaoidea and infraorder Anystina. The group is poorly studied, with limited published information on their biology and ecology.
Galumna
Galumna is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Galumnidae, established by Heyden in 1826. The genus contains over 160 accepted species, with a small number organized under subgenera. These mites are part of the diverse soil-dwelling oribatid fauna that plays important roles in decomposition processes.
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.
Glycyphagoidea
Glycyphagoidea is a superfamily of astigmatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes. These mites are primarily associated with stored products, bird and mammal nests, and occasionally with human habitations. The superfamily includes several families of small, soft-bodied mites that are often overlooked due to their minute size.
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.
Gymnodamaeus
Gymnodamaeus is a genus of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) in the family Gymnodamaeidae, first described by Kulczynski in 1902. The genus contains multiple species distributed across various regions, with recent taxonomic work describing new species from Austria. As members of the diverse oribatid mite fauna, these mites contribute to soil ecosystem processes. The genus is classified within the superfamily Gymnodamaeoidea.
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.
Hermanniellidae
Hermanniellidae is a family of oribatid mites (order Sarcoptiformes) containing approximately 9 genera and at least 50 described species. The family was established by Grandjean in 1934 and belongs to the superfamily Hermannielloidea within the group Pycnonoticae. Genera include Hermanniella, Hermannobates, Ampullobates, and Sacculobates, among others.
Hermanniidae
Hermanniidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Sarcoptiformes, containing at least three genera—Hermannia, Neohermannia, and Galapagacarus—with approximately 80 described species. Members are primarily soil-dwelling mites with holarctic and pantropical distributions, including significant diversity in Australian wet forests and the Philippines. The family is characterized by stocky body morphology and distinctive setal arrangements that vary among species.
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.
Hydrozetidae
Hydrozetidae is a family of aquatic oribatid mites (water mites) within the order Oribatida, established by Grandjean in 1954. The family contains at least one genus, Hydrozetes, with at least 20 described species. These mites are distinguished by adaptations to freshwater habitats, including a reduced bothridium lacking a sensillus, monodactylous legs, and the absence of pteromorphae. Fossil evidence from the Late Paleocene of Canada demonstrates the family's ancient aquatic association with submerged vegetation.
Hydryphantoidea
Hydryphantoidea is a superfamily of prostigmatan mites within Trombidiformes, comprising approximately 250 described species across six families. Members are predominantly aquatic or semiaquatic, inhabiting freshwater habitats worldwide. The group includes the families Hydryphantidae, Hydrodromidae, Rhynchohydracaridae, Thermacaridae, Ctenothyadidae, and Teratothyadidae.
Hygrobatidae
water mites
Hygrobatidae is a family of prostigmatan mites in the order Trombidiformes, commonly known as water mites. The family comprises approximately 78 genera and over 100 described species, though estimates vary. Members are primarily aquatic, inhabiting springs, streams, and running waters across multiple continents. The genus Hygrobates includes a well-studied species complex (fluviatilis-complex) with ten or more morphologically similar species. Some species exhibit parasitic associations with amphibians.
Johnstoniana
Johnstoniana is a genus of mites in the family Johnstonianidae, order Trombidiformes. These mites belong to the group commonly known as velvet mites or water mites, though specific life habits for this genus remain poorly documented. The genus was established by George in 1909 and is distinguished by morphological features of the gnathosoma and leg chaetotaxy. Members are found in terrestrial and freshwater-associated habitats.
Lasioerythraeus
Lasioerythraeus is a genus of mites in the family Erythraeidae, described by Welbourn and Young in 1987. The genus belongs to the subfamily Erythraeinae within the superfamily Erythraeoidea. Members of this genus are predatory mites in the order Trombidiformes. The genus has been documented in iNaturalist with 59 observations, indicating it is encountered with moderate frequency by naturalists.
Lebertia
Lebertia is a genus of mites in the family Lebertiidae, established by Neuman in 1880. It belongs to the order Trombidiformes, a large group of mites commonly referred to as "true mites" or "prostigmatid mites." The genus contains at least two described species, including Lebertia aberrans and Lebertia aberrata. Lebertia is classified within the superfamily Lebertioidea, which includes water mites and related predatory or parasitic forms.
Lebertiidae
Lebertiidae is a family of prostigmatic mites in the order Trombidiformes, established by Thor in 1900. The family comprises at least two genera—*Lebertia* (Neuman, 1880) and *Estelloxus* (Habeeb, 1963)—with approximately 14 described species. These mites are part of the superfamily Lebertioidea within the infraorder Anystina. Records indicate presence in northern European countries including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Leptinae
Leptinae is a subfamily of mites in the family Erythraeidae, order Trombidiformes. These are prostigmatid mites, a group that includes many predatory and parasitic species. The subfamily was established by Billberg in 1820 and contains genera characterized by elongated body forms. Members of this subfamily are found across multiple continents, with over 3,000 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Liacaridae
Liacaridae is a family of oribatid mites comprising approximately 7 genera and over 240 described species. Members are small arachnids (adult body length 445–735 μm) characterized by specific morphological features including lamellar and interlamellar setae arrangements. The family includes the fossil genus †Liacarus and extant genera such as Adoristes, Xenillus, and Dorycranosus. Species within this family exhibit sexual dimorphism in body size, with females typically larger than males.
Limnocharidae
Limnocharidae is a small family of mites in the order Trombidiformes, comprising at least 4 genera and approximately 12 described species. The family includes the extant genera *Limnochares*, *Austrolimnochares*, and *Rhyncholimnochares*, plus the extinct genus *†Neolimnochares*. These mites belong to the superfamily Eylaoidea within the suborder Prostigmata.
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.
Megisthanidae
Megisthanidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata, comprising 26 recognized species. Members of this family include the largest known mesostigmatid mites. The family is classified within the superfamily Megisthanoidea and the infraorder Antennophorina. At least one genus, Megisthanus, is definitively placed within this family.