Common names
Acariformes and Parasitiformes body types
mites, ticks
Probability of encounter
high
Quarantine importance
Numerous important pests of crops, livestock, wildlife, native flora, and humans.
opilionid (Opiliones) posterior showing opisthosomal segmentation (DEW)
Similarity to mites
Taxa most similar to mites: Ricinulei have a cucullus and opisthosomal segmentation. Opilionids have opisthosomal segmentation.
Morphology
See the Mite morphology page for details.
Body regions and limbs
- Mites have the first two segments (bearing the chelicerae and palps) separated from the body by flexible cuticle. This anterior region is called the capitulum ('little head') or gnathosoma ('jaw body').
- The remainder of the mite body is called the idiosoma and lacks primary segmentation.
- Larval mites are usually hexapod (6 legs); nymphs and adults usually octopod (8 legs).
dorsal view (left); ventral view (right)
Diversity
2–3 superorders, 5–6 orders, 450–500 families: 55,000 described species, >1,000,000 spp.
References
- Tree of Life Web Project 2006Tree of Life Web Project 2006:
Tree of Life Web Project. 2006. Araneae. Spiders. Version 07 December 2006 (temporary). The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
- Krantz 1978Krantz 1978:
Krantz GW. 1978. A manual of acarology [2nd ed.]. Oregon State University Book Stores, Corvallis.
- Walter and Proctor 1999Walter and Proctor 1999:
Walter DE, Proctor HC. 1999. Mites: Ecology, evolution and behaviour. University of NSW Press, Sydney and CABI, Wallingford. 494 pp.
