| Phenopelopidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Oribatida |
| Superfamily: | Phenopelopoidea |
| Family: | Phenopelopidae Petrunkevitch, 1955 |
Phenopelopidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Sarcoptiformes. [1] [2] [3] [4] As of 2018, there were 4 genera and 106 species known in this family. [5]
Adult mites of this family are 400-900 μm long and usually dark brown to almost black in colour, but light brown individuals also occur. They can be distinguished from other oribatid families by: flat and blade-like lamellae (ridges of cuticle between the dorsal trichobothria); elongate pelopsiform or normally developed chelicerae with small chelae; notogaster with a broad anterior tectum, overhanging insertions of interlamellar setae and bothridia; with movable pteromorphs and well- or poorly-circumscribed lenticulus; porose areas small or rarely with saccules, all closely associated with some of the notogastral setae; with eight or 10 pairs of notogastral setae; and custodium broad. [5] [6]
The juvenile stages (larvae and nymphs) differ from adults in being smaller, soft-bodied, light brown and having plicate (folded or crumpled) cuticle. However, juveniles have only been studied for a few species of Phenopelopidae. [5] [6]
These mites are covered in numerous setae, which vary among species and among life stages within species. A typical feature of Phenopelopidae is the presence of long, thick setae on some leg segments. Juveniles of some species have long marginal setae, possibly as protection against small predators. [6]
Phenopelopidae have been collected from leaf litter underneath trees, moss, a forest meadow, at the edge of a bog, grass and woodland. [5] [6] [7] [8] They appear to be fungal feeders, but at least one species can feed on living plant material. [8]
Below is a list of the genera in this family, along with their authorities, years of publication and distributions. [5]
Mites are small arachnids. Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but genetic analysis does not show clear evidence of a close relationship.
The Acariformes, also known as the Actinotrichida, are the most diverse of the two superorders of mites. Over 32,000 described species are found in 351 families, with an estimated total of 440,000 to 929,000 species, including undescribed species.
The peacock mites of the genus Tuckerella are a significant herbivorous pest in the tropics, for example on citrus fruit. Other species dwell in grasses, possibly as root feeders.
The Phytoseiidae are a family of mites which feed on thrips and other mite species. They are often used as a biological control agent for managing mite pests. Because of their usefulness as biological control agents, interest in Phytoseiidae has steadily increased over the past century. Public awareness of the biological control potential of invertebrates has been growing, though mainly in the US and Europe. In 1950, there were 34 known species. Today, there are 2,731 documented species organized in 90 genera and three subfamilies.
Oribatida, also known as oribatid mites, moss mites or beetle mites, are an order of mites, in the "chewing Acariformes" clade Sarcoptiformes. They range in size from 0.2 to 1.4 millimetres. There are currently 12,000 species that have been identified, but researchers estimate that there may be anywhere from 60,000 to 120,000 total species. Oribatid mites are by far the most prevalent of all arthropods in forest soils, and are essential for breaking down organic detritus and distributing fungi.
Tydeidae is a family of acariform mites. As of 2016, it contained over 300 species in three subfamilies, though more species have been discovered since then.
Poecilochirus is a Holarctic genus of mites in the family Parasitidae. They are relatively large and often found on rotting corpses, where they are transported by beetles. Deuteronymphs are characterized by two orange dorsal shields and in many species a transverse band on the sternal shield. The juvenile development consists of a larval stage, protonymph, and deuteronymph, but no tritonymph. Females are smaller than males. Males guard female deuteronymphs shortly before these mate, and pairs mate venter-to-venter.
The Laelapidae are a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family is also referred to in the literature as Laelaptidae, which may be the correct spelling.
Austrophthiracarus is a genus of mites in the family Steganacaridae.
Schwiebea is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae. It is among the largest in the family with over 60 species.
Blattisociidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.
Galumna pseudokhoii is a species of mite first found in Cát Tiên National Park, Vietnam, in dark loam in a Lagerstroemia forest. This species is very similar in the location and morphology of notogastral areae porosae, rostral morphology, lamellar and interlamellar setae, lamellar lines locations, and incomplete dorsosejugal suture to Galumna khoii, differing in body size, sensilli morphology, and the number of genital setae on the anterior parts of its genital plates.
Pergalumna indistincta is a species of mite first found in Cát Tiên National Park, Vietnam, in dark loam in a Lagerstroemia forest. This species is similar in notogastral areae porosae, punctate body surfaces, prodorsal setae morphology, and dorsosejugal suture, to Pergalumna amorpha, differing in body size and the development of its adanal setae.
Galumna levisensilla is a species of mite first found in sandy soil in a dipterocarp forest of Cát Tiên National Park.
Neogalumna seniczaki is a species of mite first found in sandy soil in a dipterocarp forest of Cát Tiên National Park.
Belba is a genus of mites belonging to family Damaeidae. The genus was established by Carl von Heyden in 1826. Notaspis corynopus was the type species. Species that are part of the genus can be found in Eurasia and North America.
Damaeidae Berlese (1896) is a family of mites. Alternative names for the family include Belbidae Willmann (1931), and Belbodamaeidae Bulanova-Zachvatkina (1967) or Hungarobelbidae (1996). They had been previously considered to be distinct families.
Roubikia is a genus of bee-associated mites occurring in the neotropics. They are mutualists or commensals, and feed on fatty acids from floral oils and most likely on fungi. The type species is Chaetodactylus panamensis.
Melicharidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.
Mercedes Delfinado is an acarologist from the Philippines, who was a recipient of a 1962 Guggenheim Fellowship. She is a speciliast in bee mites, and published widely on insects of south-east Asia. For over twenty years she was a Chief Editor for the International Journal of Acarology. Multiple species were named in her honour.