| Melicharidae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Mesostigmata |
| Superfamily: | Ascoidea |
| Family: | Melicharidae |
Melicharidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. [1]
Melicharidae are mites characterized by: podonotal and opisthonotal shields usually fused; the third pair of sternal lyrifissures (iv3) situated off sternal shield (rarely absent) and usually on metasternal plates; peritrematic shield free posteriorly from, or narrowly fused with, exopodal shield beside coxa IV (except Orthadenella); fixed cheliceral digit usually with a hyaline lobe instead of a setiform pilus dentilis, and movable cheliceral digit usually with a pointed process (mucro) on mid-ventral face; genital shield usually gently rounded posteriorly; anal shield usually oval or elliptical, bearing only circumanal setae; and female spermathecal apparatus laelapid-type. [1]
Melicharidae are free-living mites found in various habitats including soil, leaf litter, plants (e.g. bromeliads, pineapple flowers and false bird-of-paradise [2] ), rotten wood, stored products, seaweeds, animals, and the nests and excrement of animals. [3] [4] A large proportion of the family evolved to live on plants and these feed mostly on nectar and/or pollen. [5] Other reported food items include nematodes, insect eggs and larvae, other mites and fungi. [5]
Melicharids associated with animals may be phoretic on them. For example, species of genera Proctolaelaps, Rhinoseius and Tropicoseius are phoretic on hummingbirds. [2]
Some species of Proctolaelaps are associated with bumblebees, though nothing else about their biology (e.g. how they feed) is known. [6]
Melicharidae has more species in the Neotropical region (South America) than in anywhere else. This region also harbours the most endemic species of any region. [7]
As of 2016, 11 genera were recognised in this family. [4]