Oribatid-mites
Guides
Achipteriidae
Achipteriidae is a family of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) comprising approximately 9 genera and at least 80 described species. Members of this family are primarily arboreal, with documented species inhabiting canopy lichens on coniferous trees in temperate montane forests. The family exhibits morphological diversity in lamellar structure, pteromorphic projections, and notogastral setation patterns. Some species achieve high population densities in arboreal microhabitats, suggesting significant ecological importance in forest canopy food webs.
Achipterioidea
Achipterioidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites (Oribatida) within the order Sarcoptiformes. These mites are part of the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna. The superfamily was established by Thor in 1929 and is classified within the infraorder Brachypylina and the group Poronoticae.
Ameronothridae
Ameronothridae is a family of oribatid mites comprising approximately 8 genera and at least 30 described species. The family is predominantly distributed in Holarctic cold-temperate and polar coastal regions, with some populations occurring far inland on anthropogenic structures. Members are primarily intertidal inhabitants of rocky shorelines, with documented lichenivorous feeding habits. The family includes notable genera such as Ameronothrus, Halozetes, Alaskozetes, and Podacarus.
Ameronothroidea
Ameronothroidea is a paraphyletic assemblage of oribatid mites comprising approximately 130 species across five families. Contrary to previous classifications as a monophyletic superfamily, molecular evidence demonstrates that the marine-associated lifestyle evolved independently three times: Fortuyniidae and Selenoribatidae in tropical and subtropical intertidal zones (Triassic-Jurassic, ~225–146 mya), Ameronothridae in northern cold-temperate and polar coasts (late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous), and Podacaridae in southern cold-temperate and polar coasts (Early Cretaceous, ~30 my later). Tegeocranellidae represents a limnic (freshwater) lineage without marine association. These mites are strictly intertidal, exhibiting low dispersal potential and strong biogeographic structure correlated with ocean currents and continental history.
Belba
Belba is a genus of oribatid mites (family Damaeidae) established by Carl von Heyden in 1826, with Notaspis corynopus (Hermann, 1804) as the type species. The genus comprises soil-dwelling species distributed across Eurasia and North America. Members are fungivores, and at least one species (Belba kingi) has been subject to complete life history study.
Brachypylina
Brachypylina is a diverse infraorder of oribatid mites (beetle mites) comprising the majority of oribatid species. These mites are characterized by heavily armored, beetle-like bodies with a distinct separation between the notogastral shield and other body regions. They occupy a wide range of terrestrial habitats and play significant roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling.
Camisia
Camisia is a genus of oribatid mites (Oribatida) in the family Crotoniidae, comprising 34 species and one subspecies worldwide. These large mites (>1 mm) are primarily arboreal, inhabiting tree trunks, forest canopies, and moss-lichen communities on rocky surfaces. The genus exhibits distinctive morphological adaptations including cuticular secretions that bind sand grains to the body surface. Camisia is notable for its complex taxonomic history, having been classified in both Crotoniidae and Camisiidae families by different authorities.
Camisiidae
Camisiidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Oribatida, containing at least 3 genera and approximately 70 described species. The family includes genera such as Camisia, Austronothrus, Heminothrus, and Platynothrus. Species within this family have been documented from temperate rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest habitats, particularly in southern Australia. Some taxonomic authorities treat Camisiidae as a synonym of Crotoniidae.
Cymbaeremaeidae
Cymbaeremaeidae is a family of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) comprising approximately 5 genera and at least 90 described species. The family includes the genera Cymbaeremaeus, Scapheremaeus, Bulleremaeus, Glanderemaeus, and Seteremaeus. Members of this family have been documented across multiple continents including Asia, Australia, North America, and South America, with habitats ranging from forest soil and litter to arboreal environments and temporary rock pools.
Eremaeidae
Family of oribatid mites in the order Sarcoptiformes. Found across Palearctic and Nearctic regions, with species inhabiting soil and litter from arid zones to the High Arctic. Includes genera Eremaeus, Eueremaeus, Tricheremaeus, Carinabella, Asperemaeus, and others. Sexual reproduction. Both immatures and adults feed primarily on fungi.
Euphthiracaridae
Euphthiracaridae is a family of oribatid mites within the superfamily Euphthiracaroidea, characterized by their membership in the Euptyctima group. The family includes at least two recognized genera: Rhysotritia and Microtritia. These mites belong to the diverse soil-dwelling assemblage of Oribatida, which play important roles in decomposition processes. Records indicate presence in Scandinavian regions.
Gymnodamaeoidea
A superfamily of oribatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes, established by Grandjean in 1954. Members are primarily soil-dwelling microarthropods found in forest litter, mosses, decaying wood, and organic and mineral soil layers. The group includes genera such as Licnodamaeus, Plesiodamaeus, Pedrocortesella, and Pleodamaeus. Species exhibit distinctive cerotegumental ornamentation and setal patterns useful for identification.
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.
Haplozetidae
Haplozetidae is a family of oribatid mites (Sarcoptiformes) established by Grandjean in 1936. The family contains at least 20 genera and approximately 210 described species. Members of this family are primarily soil-dwelling microarthropods found in litter and upper soil strata across diverse geographic regions.
Lohmannoidea
Lohmannoidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites (Sarcoptiformes: Oribatida) characterized by reduced body size and simplified morphology relative to other oribatid groups. Members are primarily soil-dwelling decomposers found in forest litter and organic substrates. The superfamily includes families such as Lohmanniidae and Nanhermanniidae. These mites play roles in nutrient cycling but remain poorly studied compared to more diverse oribatid superfamilies.
Neoliodoidea
Neoliodoidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes. These mites are part of the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna, contributing to decomposition processes. The group is relatively poorly studied compared to other oribatid superfamilies, with limited species-level documentation.
Oppioidea
Oppioidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes. Members are primarily soil-dwelling microarthropods characterized by specific morphological features of the pycnonotic group. The superfamily includes families such as Epimerellidae, which contain halophilic species adapted to saline littoral environments.
Palaeacaroidea
Palaeacaroidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites established by Grandjean in 1932. It belongs to the infraorder Palaeosomata, a group of primitive mites characterized by plesiomorphic morphological features. The superfamily represents one of the earliest-diverging lineages within the Oribatida, often called 'moss mites' or 'beetle mites'. Records of this group are extremely sparse, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist.