Endeostigmata

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Taxonomy

Micropsammidae Coineau & Theron, 1983

Diagnosis

Elongate endeostigmatans without prodorsal trichobothria, but with postpedal constrictions and massive chelicerae.

Remarks

Micropsammus, an elongate mite with a strong constriction behind legs IV, is the least aberrant of the Nematalycoidea and retains 3 pairs of prodorsal setae, a naso bearing setae ro, and well developed rutella. Species of Micropsammus feed on fungi and form gut boluses, but nothing is known about the other members of the cohort except that they appear to be fluid feeders.

References

• Coineau and Theron 1983Coineau and Theron 1983:
  Coineau Y, Theron P. 1983. Les Micropsammidae, n. fam. d’Acariens Endeostigmata des sables fin. Acarologia 24: 275–280.
• Kethley 1990aKethley 1990a:
  Kethley JB. 1990a. Acarina: Prostigmata (Actinedida). pp. 667–756. In: Dindal DL, ed. Soil biology guide. John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane.