Mesostigmata

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Taxonomy

updated 2025

Diagnostic characters

Phytoseiidae mites with 6 anterolateral setae (usually including z3, s6) and one or more of setae Z1, S2, S4 and S5.

Similar taxa

Phytoseiinae lack setaeseta:
(pl. setae, from L. = bristle) cuticular process composed of a hollow shaft (sometimes filled with a refractive material) produced from a membranous socket (the alveolus); the hair-like, spine-like, branched or variously expanded structures on the surfaces of the legs and body.  Most setae function as mechanoreceptors, but others (e.g., solenidia) are chemoreceptors or have unknown or ambiguous functions.
Z1, S2, S4 and S5. Amblyseiinae lack both setaeseta:
(pl. setae, from L. = bristle) cuticular process composed of a hollow shaft (sometimes filled with a refractive material) produced from a membranous socket (the alveolus); the hair-like, spine-like, branched or variously expanded structures on the surfaces of the legs and body.  Most setae function as mechanoreceptors, but others (e.g., solenidia) are chemoreceptors or have unknown or ambiguous functions.
z3 and s6. Ascids usually have dorsaldorsal:
relating to the upper or back side; opposed to ventral.
shields with 22 or more pairs of setaeseta:
(pl. setae, from L. = bristle) cuticular process composed of a hollow shaft (sometimes filled with a refractive material) produced from a membranous socket (the alveolus); the hair-like, spine-like, branched or variously expanded structures on the surfaces of the legs and body.  Most setae function as mechanoreceptors, but others (e.g., solenidia) are chemoreceptors or have unknown or ambiguous functions.
and only rarely (e.g., Blattisocius) have phytoseioid corniculicorniculus:
(pl. corniculi) (also, external malae) a usually horn-like process (sometimes toothed, bifurcate, trifurcate, spine-like, spatulate, or membranous) on the subcapitulum of parasitiform mites that usually supports the salivary styli.  A toothed corniculus could be confused with a rutellum, a possibly homologous structure in Acariformes and Opilioacarida. Phytoseiid image is spatulate corniculus.
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Ecology and distribution

Most Typhlodrominae live on vegetation and feed on mites, small insects and pollen. Some species show up in nests or flowers.

References

• Chant and McMurtry 1994Chant and McMurtry 1994:
  Chant DA, McMurtry JA. 1994. A review of the subfamilies Phytoseiinae and Typhlodrominae (Acari: Phytoseiidae). International Journal of Acarology 20: 223–310.
• Denmark 1992Denmark 1992:
  Denmark, H. A. 1992. A revision of the genus Typhlodromus Scheuten (Acari : Phytoseiidae). Occasional Papers of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods 7 : 1-43.
• Denmark and Rather 1996Denmark and Rather 1996:
  Denmark, H. A. and Rather, A. Q. 1996. Revision of the genus Neoseiulella Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae). International Journal of Acarology 22 : 43-77.
• Schicha 1987Schicha 1987:
  Schicha E. 1987. Phytoseiidae of Australia and neighbouring areas. Indira Publishing House, Oak Park, Michigan.
• Schuster and Pritchard 1963Schuster and Pritchard 1963:
  Schuster RO and Pritchard EA. 1963. Phytoseiid mites of California. Hilgardia 43 (7): 191-285.
• Tseng 1976Tseng 1976:
  Tseng YH. 1976. Systematics of the mite family Phytoseiidae from Taiwan, with a revised key to the genera of the world (II). Journal of the Agricultural Association of China 94: 86-128.
• Walter 1997bWalter 1997b:
  Walter DE. 1997b. Notes on Australian Typhlodrominae (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) with descriptions of two new species of Neoseiulella Muma from tropical rainforests in Far North Queensland. Australian Journal of Entomology 36: 333-338.