Exotic mite families

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Taxonomy

updated 2025

Common names

rust mites, leaf vagrant mites, big-beaked eriophyoids

Probability of encounter

high

Quarantine importance

Medium. The 53 genera and >300 species of diptilomiopids are leaf vagrants that usually cause little damage to their woody hosts other than some browning or rusting of leaves. Catarhinus tricholaenae Keifer may cause leaf rust on corn and other grasses. The Big-beaked Plum Mite Diptacus gigantorhynchus (Napela) damages apple and Prunus species. Members of the genera Rhyncaphytoptus and Diptilomiopus are sometimes damaging, e.g., D. assamica Keifer may cause a russeting of citrus leaves. Currently, no diptilomiopids are known to transmit plant viruses or form erinea.

Diagnosis

• Prodorsal shield without setae or with 2 sc setae
• Gnathosoma large compared to body and stylets abruptly curving ventrally near their bases
• Subdorsal seta c1 absent
• Tibia I without solenidion
• Featherclaw deeply divided medially (Diptilomiopidae) or entire (Rhyncaphytopinae)
• Spermathecal tubes short

Similar taxa

Immature Tarsonemidae have 3 pairs of legs and a gnathosomal capsule. Eriophyidae and Phytoptidae have gnathosomas that are smaller compared to their bodies and straight to slightly curved stylets.

References

• Amrine 1996aAmrine 1996a:
  Amrine JW, Jr. 1996a. Keys to the world genera of the Eriophyoidea. Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, Michigan.
• Amrine 1996bAmrine 1996b:
  Amrine JW, Jr. 1996b. Phyllocoptes fructiphilus and biological control of multiflora rose. pp. 741–749. In: Lindquist EE, Sabelis MW, and Bruin J, eds. Eriophyid mites: Their biology, natural enemies and control. World Crop Pests, Vol. 6. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
• Amrine and Stasny 1994Amrine and Stasny 1994:
  Amrine JW, Jr., Stasny TA. 1994. Catalog of the Eriophyoidea (Acarina: Prostigmata) of the world. Indira Publishing House, West Boomfield, Michigan.
• Kethley 1982aKethley 1982a:
  Kethley JB. 1982a. Acariformes. pp. 120–123. In: Parker SP, ed. Synopsis and classification of living organisms, Vol. 2. McGraw-Hill, New York.
• Krantz 1978Krantz 1978:
  Krantz GW. 1978. A manual of acarology [2nd ed.]. Oregon State University Book Stores, Corvallis.
• Lindquist et al. 1996Lindquist et al. 1996:
  Lindquist EE, Sabelis MW, Bruin J, eds. 1996. Eriophyid Mites: Their biology, natural enemies and control. World Crop Pests, Vol. 6. Elsevier, Amsterdam.