Soil-mites
Guides
Alycidae
Alycidae is a family of mites in the suborder Endeostigmata, established by Canestrini and Fanzago in 1877. The family comprises at least six recognized genera: Alycus, Amphialycus, Coccalicus, Laminamichaelia, Orthacarus, and Petralycus. These mites belong to the primitive acariform group Endeostigmata, which retains ancestral characteristics. The family has been documented in northern European countries including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
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.
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.
Cepheoidea
Cepheoidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes, established by Berlese in 1896. The group is currently treated as a synonym of Cepheusoidea in modern classifications. Oribatid mites in this group are primarily soil-dwelling decomposers.
Cocceupodidae
Cocceupodidae is a family of prostigmatan mites in the order Trombidiformes, established by Jesionowska in 2010. The family comprises at least three genera—Cocceupodes, Filieupodes, and Linopodes—with approximately 23 described species. These mites have been documented across diverse geographic regions including Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and polar localities such as Greenland and the South Shetland Islands. The genus Linopodes includes the widespread species Linopodes motatorius, first described by Linnaeus in 1758.
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.
Hermannia
Hermannia is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Hermanniidae, established by Nicolet in 1855. These mites are characterized by a stocky body form and distinctive gastronotal setal ontogeny. The genus has a holarctic distribution with species found in arctic tundra, temperate forests, and Mediterranean regions. Several species have been well-studied including H. scabra, H. reticulata, and H. gibba, with research focusing on morphological development, population ecology, and symbiotic microorganisms.
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.