Parasites
Guides
Antennophoridae
Antennophoridae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata, comprising five genera and nine recognized species. Members are obligate ectoparasites of ants, with Antennophorus grandis being the best-studied species. These mites ride on host workers, using specialized front legs to solicit food through tactile communication.
Charletonia
Charletonia is a genus of erythraeid mites comprising approximately 86 described species based on larval morphology. The genus is globally distributed and comprises ectoparasitic mites whose larvae attach to arthropod hosts. Adult and nymphal stages are active predators, though less frequently encountered than the distinctive larval form. The genus was established by Oudemans in 1910 and belongs to the family Erythraeidae within the order Trombidiformes.
Cheyletoidea
Cheyletoidea is a superfamily of mites in the order Trombidiformes. Members include ectoparasites of arthropods and vertebrates, particularly birds, as well as some free-living predatory species. The superfamily encompasses several families including Cheyletidae, Cheyletiellidae, Harpirhynchidae, and Syringophilidae. Many species are highly host-specific, inhabiting feather quills or skin of birds.
Demodecidae
Mammalian Follicle Mites
Demodecidae is a family of highly host-specific mites that inhabit the skin and associated structures of mammals. Species within this family typically exhibit strict specificity to a single host species, though individual mammals may harbor multiple demodecid species simultaneously. These mites occupy discrete microhabitats including hair follicles, sebaceous glands, Meibomian glands of the eye, ear canals, and other specialized skin regions. The family was formerly known as Demodicidae. Members range from among the smallest known animals (70–80 μm) to larger species exceeding 190 μm in length.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ixodidae
hard ticks, hard-backed ticks, scale ticks
Ixodidae is the family of hard ticks, one of two major tick families, distinguished from soft ticks (Argasidae) by the presence of a scutum—a hard dorsal shield. As of 2025, the family comprises approximately 769 species in 18 extant genera. Members are obligate ectoparasites of vertebrates and are significant vectors of pathogens causing diseases in humans, livestock, and wildlife.
Neotrombidium
Neotrombidium is a genus of velvet mites and chiggers in the family Neotrombidiidae, established by Leonardi in 1901. The genus contains at least three described species: N. beeri, N. helladicum, and N. samsinaki. Like other members of the infraorder Parasitengona, these mites exhibit complex life histories with parasitic larval stages and predatory adults. N. beeri larvae have been documented as subelytral parasites of false mealworm beetles in Arkansas.
Nomotettix cristatus
crested pygmy grasshopper, crested grouse locust, northern crested grouse locust
Nomotettix cristatus is a small pygmy grasshopper in the family Tetrigidae, commonly known as the crested pygmy grasshopper or crested grouse locust. It is one of approximately 35 Nearctic species of Tetrigidae. The species exhibits three recognized subspecies with distinct geographic distributions across North America. Like other members of its family, it is characterized by an elongated pronotum that extends over the abdomen, a trait distinguishing pygmy grasshoppers from typical grasshoppers in Acrididae.
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stemhumanRelevanceinteraction-with-humanssimilarTaxamust-include-reasonmisconceptionsonly-if-meaningfulextraDetailsimportant-additional-contextSTYLE-RULESclear-direct-sentencesavoid-fluff-filler-languagerepeating-taxonomy-in-proseoverly-technical-jargonconcrete-statementsabstract-descriptionsQUALITY-RULEScompleteness-highmost-fields-well-supportedcompleteness-mediumpartial-but-reliablecompleteness-lowsparse-datahasInferredContenttrue-ONLY-if-generalization-usedotherwise-falseOUTPUT-FORMATstrictly-match-JSON-schemano-extra-fieldsno-commentary-outside-JSONwater-associatedthree-subspeciesN.-c.-cristatusN.-c.-compressusN.-c.-floridanussmall-size399-observationsexact-matchmedium-completenessno-inferred-contentfactual-correctness-prioritizedconservative-approachinformative-contentno-fluffno-vague-generalizationscautious-language-where-neededno-fabricationunique-field-contentfocused-sectionsJSON-schema-complianceno-commentaryProstigmata
Prostigs
Prostigmata is a suborder of mites in the order Trombidiformes, comprising the majority of 'sucking' mites within the Acariformes. The group exhibits extraordinary ecological diversity, including plant-feeding pests, vertebrate and invertebrate parasites, predators, and free-living forms in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Notable members include spider mites (Tetranychidae), gall mites (Eriophyidae), harvest mites (Trombiculidae), and Demodex mites. The suborder is taxonomically complex, currently divided into four infraorders: Anystina, Eleutherengona, Eupodina, and Labidostommatina.
Tanaupodidae
Tanaupodidae is a family of mites in the order Trombidiformes, suborder Parasitengona, considered to form one of the basal clades of this group. The family is considered enigmatic due to limited knowledge of its biology and diversity. Larvae of at least some genera are parasitic on arthropod hosts, including aphids and springtails. The family includes approximately 13 genera, with fossil records from Baltic amber indicating an ancient evolutionary history.
Thecostraca
Barnacles and Allies
Thecostraca is a class of marine crustaceans encompassing over 2,200 described species, with barnacles (subclass Cirripedia) comprising the vast majority. The group includes three major lineages: sessile suspension-feeding barnacles, parasitic ascothoracidans that infect cnidarians and echinoderms, and the enigmatic Facetotecta, known only from planktonic larvae. Members undergo distinctive larval development, typically featuring a nauplius stage followed by a cypris stage that facilitates settlement. Thecostraca exhibits remarkable life history diversity, ranging from free-living suspension feeders to endoparasites with highly derived morphologies.
Trombiculidae
chiggers, harvest mites, berry bugs, red bugs, scrub-itch mites, aoutas
Trombiculidae is a family of mites commonly known as chiggers (North America) or harvest mites (Britain). The family includes species whose larvae are parasitic on vertebrates, including humans, causing skin irritation through a unique feeding mechanism. Only the larval stage is parasitic; nymphs and adults are free-living predators. Several species serve as vectors for scrub typhus in East Asia and the South Pacific. The family was formally established by Henry Ellsworth Ewing in 1944, though references to chiggers date back to sixth-century China.
Trombidiformes
Trombidiform Mites
Trombidiformes is a large, diverse order of mites within the subclass Acariformes, comprising approximately 25,821 described species across 151 families. The order is divided into two suborders: Sphaerolichida (two families) and Prostigmata (the majority, with four infraorders and 40 superfamilies). Members include medically significant species such as Demodex mites, chiggers (Trombiculidae), and scrub-itch mites, as well as agriculturally important groups like spider mites (Tetranychidae). The phylogenetic placement of the superfamily Eriophyoidea (gall mites) remains uncertain; recent molecular analyses suggest it may fall outside Trombidiformes, possibly related to Nematalycidae.
Trombidioidea
velvet mites
Trombidioidea is a superfamily of mites in the order Trombidiformes, commonly known as velvet mites. It comprises approximately 8 families and at least 430 described species, including the familiar true velvet mites (Trombidiidae) and chiggers (Trombiculidae). Members exhibit complex life cycles with dramatic morphological and ecological shifts between instars. The superfamily is characterized by large, often brightly colored adults and minute, parasitic larvae.
Unionicolidae
water mites
Unionicolidae is a family of water mites in the order Trombidiformes, comprising approximately 5 genera and at least 40 described species. Members are primarily freshwater aquatic arachnids distributed worldwide. Many species, particularly in the genus Unionicola, exhibit parasitic relationships with freshwater molluscs, feeding on host mucus and tissue. The family represents a significant component of Arachnida diversity in aquatic ecosystems.
Varroidae
Varroidae is a family of parasitic mites in the order Mesostigmata, containing the economically significant genus Varroa. Members are obligate ectoparasites of honey bees (Apis spp.), with Varroa destructor being the most destructive species affecting managed European honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies worldwide. These mites have a two-stage life cycle involving a phoretic traveling phase on adult bees and a reproductive phase within brood cells. The family has become a major focus of apicultural research due to the severe colony losses attributed to Varroa infestations, disease transmission, and the mites' role in honey bee population declines.