Is it a mite?

t

Common names

symphylans

Probability of encounter

medium

Quarantine importance

A few species are garden and glasshouse pests.

Similarity to mites

None other than small size. The distinct head with bead-like antennae and the trunk with many leg-bearing segments should distinguish symphylans from mites.

Morphology

Normal adult length: 2–15 mm
Body tagmata: head, trunk
Eyes: absent
Antennae: moniliform (bead-like), many segmented
Mouthparts: entognathous mandibles, maxillae, labium (fused 2nd maxillae)
Legs: 6–12 pairs
Respiration: tracheae, spiracles under antennae on head
Gonopore: venter of 4th trunk segment
Distinguishing features: myriapod form; distal trichobothria and spinneret cerci

Comments: Symphylans have a number of unique features including cranial tracheae, gonopore on trunk segment IV, and cerci used as spinnerets and flanked by well developed trichobothria. The legs have styli and eversible sacks associated with the coxae, as do diplurans.

Diversity

<200 species

References

• Edwards 1990bEdwards 1990b:
  Edwards CA. 1990b. Symphyla. pp. 891–910. In: Dindal DL. (Ed.) Soil biology guide. John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane.
• Tree of Life Web Project 2002hTree of Life Web Project 2002h:
  Tree of Life Web Project. 2002h. Symphyla. Version 01 January 2002 (temporary). The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/