| Laelapidae Temporal range: | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Mesostigmata |
| Family: | Laelapidae Berlese, 1892 |
The Laelapidae are a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. [1] [2] The family is also referred to in the literature as Laelaptidae, which may be the correct spelling.
Laelapidae have a shield covering all or most of the dorsal surface (holodorsal shield). Ventrally, there is a sternal shield with 3 pairs of setae, a tongue- or flask-shaped genital shield (greatly expanded in Ololaelaps) with usually at least 1 pair of setae, and a small anal shield with 3 circumanal setae. The peritremes are typically long and the peritrematal shields often narrow. [3]
Laelapidae is the most ecologically diverse group of Mesostigmata. [4] As of 2012, there were ten laelapid genera known to be free-living predators in soil, thirty-five that are ectoparasites on mammals (e.g. rodents [5] ) and forty-three have species associated with arthropods. [4] Laelapidae are the only family in superfamily Dermanyssoidea to include free-living predators. [3]
Among the arthropod-associated laelapids are taxa associated with bees. Raymentia are associated with Lasioglossum sweat bees and may be pollen-feeders, [6] Neohypoaspis are predators on astigmatid mites in stingless bee nests, Pneumolaelaps feed on pollen and nectar in bumblebee nests, Melittiphis alvearius feeds on pollen in European honeybee nests and Tropilaelaps are obligatory parasites of honeybees. [4]
Other arthropod-associated laelapids include species of Hypoaspis sensu lato associated with burrowing cockroaches [7] and Julolaelaps moseri which was collected from a millipede of family Spirostreptidae. [8]
Several species of Laelapidae are used commercially as biological control agents of pests, and others are being studied for the same purpose. [9] Examples include Gaeolaelaps aculeifer and Stratiolaelaps scimitus , used to control various pests in soil (thrips pupae, fly maggots, bulb mites), and pests of mushrooms (fungus gnats) and poultry (poultry red mite). [10]
Hypoaspis is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae.
The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes.
Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. They are by far the largest group of Parasitiformes, with over 8,000 species in 130 families. Mesostigmata includes parasitic as well as free-living and predatory forms. They can be recognized by the single pair of spiracles positioned laterally on the body.
Histiostomatidae is a family of mites in the clade Astigmata.
Ornithonyssus is a mite genus of the family Macronyssidae.
Dermanyssus is a genus of mites in the family Dermanyssidae. The etymology of the word Dermanyssus is from the Greek: derma, meaning skin, and nyssein, meaning bite.
Androlaelaps is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae.
The Macronyssidae are a family of parasitic mites in the order Mesostigmata.
Dermanyssidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.
Macrochelidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.
Pachylaelaps is a genus of mites in the family Pachylaelapidae. There are more than 50 described species in Pachylaelaps.
The family Ameroseiidae is one of the three families of mites under the superfamily Ascoidea. There are about 12 genera and more than 130 described species in Ameroseiidae. The family has a worldwide distribution.
Ascidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.
Proctolaelaps is a genus of mites in the family Ascidae.
Dinogamasus is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae. Most species are associated with carpenter bees in the genus Xylocopa and are found in their acarinarium.
Myrmozercon is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae.
Pseudoparasitus is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae.
Hirstionyssidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.
Ptilonyssus is a genus of mites in the family Rhinonyssidae. There are at least 230 described species in Ptilonyssus.
Spinturnix is a genus of mites in the family Spinturnicidae. Spinturnix mites are an ectoparasite found on species of bats. They live exclusively on the wing and tail membranes and are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. Spinturnix mites are a host specific species, meaning they have a few major host species that they prefer, as well as a few less frequently used hosts. In short, these mites will not infect arbitrary bat species. Their selection of host tends to align with the host species that lives closest to their local environment. Spinturnix mites are found strictly on Microchiroptera. These mites are hematophagous, meaning they feed on the blood of their host. They cannot survive without a host for more than a few hours. Therefore, transmission of mites to other hosts must occur by close contact, such as a bat in a roost.
Data related to Laelapidae at Wikispecies| Acariformes |
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| Parasitiformes |
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| Authority control databases: National |
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