Mesostigmata

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Taxonomy

updated 2025

Diagnostic characters

• Tortoise-like uropodine mesostigmatans, usually oval in outline and encased in armor dorsally and ventrally
• Scabellumscabellum:
  in Uropodina, a platform-like structure on the underside of the vertex that receives the withdrawn legs I.
  , pedofossaepedofossa:
  (pl. pedofossae) (= fossae pedales, fovae pedales) recesses into which the legs can be withdrawn.
  and metapodal line present
• Peritremes sinuous or bent; stigmata at level of coxae II–III
• Genital shieldgenital shield:
  a shield or shields covering the genital opening; in female mongynaspine Mesostigmata this shield is usually called the epigynal (epigynial) shield.  
  nude, with anterioranterior:
  the front part of the body or towards that region in comparison, e.g., 'anterior to'
  median process present (subgenus Fuscuropoda) or absent (subgenus Uroobovella)
• Coxa I large, flattened, adjacentadjacent:
  in reference to structures next to one another, contiguous; as opposed to separated
  and covering tritosternumtritosternum:
  the sternum of the 3rd body segment (between legs I); produced as a biflagellate structure in Mesostigmata, although sometimes the flagellae (laciniae) are partially or completely fused.  
  
• Chelicerae with sclerotized node, single tooth on movable digit, and membranous processes distally on fixed digitfixed digit:
  the distal extension of the middle article of the chelicera; usually bearing teeth and a distal hook and opposed to the movable digit in chelate-dentate forms, but often regressed; in Mesostigmata the fixed digit may bear the pilus dentilis.
  

Similar taxa

Uropodoidea is in need of revision and at this time it is difficult to separate the numerous described and undescribed taxa.

Ecology and distribution

Species of Uroobovella are common, especially in compost or similar habitats such as worm beds. Phoretic deutonymphs of these mites attached by a small anal pedicle.

References

• Ainscough 1981Ainscough 1981:
  Ainscough BD. 1981. Uropodine studies. I. Suprageneric classification in the cohort Uropodina Kramer, 1882 (Acari: Mesostigmata). International Journal of Acarology 7: 47–56.
• Athias 1976Athias 1976:
  Athias F. 1976. Observations morphologiques sur Polyaspis patavinus Berlese 1881 (Acariens: Uropodides). 2. Morphologie et chètotaxie des appendices au cours du dèveloppement postembryonnaire. Acarologia 18: 194–216.
• Athias-Binche and Bloszyk 1988Athias-Binche and Bloszyk 1988:
  Athias-Binche F, Bloszyk J. 1988. Australian Uropodina (Acari: Anactinotrichida). I. Australocilliba gen. n. (Cillibidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 27: 1–8.
• Athias-Binche and Evans 1981Athias-Binche and Evans 1981:
  Athias-Binche F, Evans GO. 1981. Observations on the genus Protodinychus Evans, 1957 (Acari: Mesostigmata) with descriptions of the male and phoretic deuteronymph. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy (Section B) 81B: 25–36.
• Bloszyk and Halliday 1995Bloszyk and Halliday 1995:
  Bloszyk J, Halliday RB. 1995. A new species of Dinychus Kramer from Tasmania (Acarina: Dinychidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 34: 187–191.
• Evans and Till 1979Evans and Till 1979:
  Evans EO and Till WM. 1979. Mesostigmatic mites of Britain and Ireland (Chelicerata: Acari-Parasitiformes): An introduction to their external morphology and classification. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 35 (2): 145-270.
• Gilyarov and Bregatova 1977Gilyarov and Bregatova 1977:
  Gilyarov MS and Bregatova NG, eds. 1977. Handbook for the identification of soil-inhabiting mites, Mesostigmata. Zoological Institute of the Academy of Sciences, Petrograd.
• Johnston 1961Johnston 1961:
  Johnston DE. 1961. A review of the lower uropodid mites (former Thinozerconoidea, Protodinychoidea and Trachytoidea) with notes on the classification of the Uropodina (Acarina). Acarologia 3: 522-545.
• Karg 1989aKarg 1989a:
  Karg W. 1989a. Acari (Acarina), Milben Unterordnung Parasitiformes (Anactinotrichaeta) Uropodina Kramer, Schildkrötenmilben. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 67: 1-203.
• Krantz and Ainscough 1990Krantz and Ainscough 1990:
  Krantz GW and Ainscough B. 1990. Mesostigmata. pp. 583-665. In: Dindal DL, ed. Soil biology guide. John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane.
• Wisniewski and Hirschmann 1993Wisniewski and Hirschmann 1993:
  Wisniewski J and Hirschmann W. 1993. Gangsystematik der Parasitiformes. Teil 548. Katalog der Ganggattungen, Untergattungen, Gruppen und Arten die Uropodiden der Erde. Acarologie, Schriftenreihe für Vergleichende Milbenkunde 40: 1-220.
• Womersley 1959bWomersley 1959b:
  Womersley H. 1959b. A new species of Urodiscella (Acarina, Uropodidae) from Australia. Records of the South Australian Museum 13: 349-353.