The Acaridae are a

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

mite Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods) of two large orders, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari. However, most recent genetic analyses do not recover the two as eac ...

s in order

Sarcoptiformes The Sarcoptiformes are an order (biology), order of mites comprising over 15,000 described species in around 230 families. Previously it was divided into two suborders, Oribatida and Astigmatina, but Oribatida has been promoted to an order, and A ...

Distribution

There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus'''', Sancassania'' and ''Tyrophagus''.

Ecology

Acaridae live in various habitats and have various diets. Many are generalists that live in natural (e.g. soil, litter, animal nests, decomposing plant material) and artificial (e.g. human dwellings, granaries, greenhouses, plant nurseries) environments. They feed on decomposing organic material,

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

and

nematode The nematodes ( or ; ; ), roundworms or eelworms constitute the phylum Nematoda. Species in the phylum inhabit a broad range of environments. Most species are free-living, feeding on microorganisms, but many are parasitic. Parasitic worms (h ...

s. There are also more specialised acarids. Some ''Acarus'' inhabit nests of warm-blooded animals, mostly rodents and birds. Within ''Sancassania,'' there are species associated with certain bees, associated with scarabaeid beetles (riding phoretically on live beetles and feeding on dead beetles) or feeding on

mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing Sporocarp (fungi), fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. ''Toadstool'' generally refers to a poisonous mushroom. The standard for the n ...

s. A lineage of ''Tyrophagus'', comprising ''T. formicetorum'' and related species, only occurs in ant nests. A number of ''Histiogaster'' species live beneath bark (subcortical) and feed on fungi.

Dispersal

Various Acaridae have a

phoretic Phoresis or phoresy is a temporary Commensalism, commensalistic relationship when an organism (a phoront or phoretic) attaches itself to a host organism solely for travel. It has been seen in tick, ticks and mite, mites since the 18th century, ...

deutonymph stage in their life cycle, a non-feeding nymph stage that can disperse to new habitats by riding on larger animals. Hyperphoresy (riding an animal which is itself riding a third animal) has also been reported, with acarid deutonymphs on a larger

Uropodidae Uropodidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. Description As part of superfamily Uropodoidea, Uropodidae are tortoise-like mites with an oval to circular outline, and with armour both dorsally and ventrally. They can be distinguis ...

mite which in turn was on a beetle. Most ''Tyrophagus'' species do not form deutonymphs (except for the ''T. formicetorum'' lineage), instead dispersing as feeding life stages. They may disperse phoretically, by active movements or by air currents.

Pests

Some Acaridae species are stored product pests, such as ''Acarus siro'', ''A. farris,

Tyrophagus putrescentiae ''Tyrophagus putrescentiae'' is a cosmopolitan mite species. Together with the related species '' T. longior'', it is commonly referred to as the mould mite or the cheese mite. The genus name translates from Greek to "cheese eater." Ecology In t ...

Tyrophagus longior ''Tyrophagus longior'' is a mite in the family Acaridae. Description ''Tyrophagus longior'' is oval in shape and whitish to semitransparent in colour. It is covered dorsally in barbed setae. There are eight legs (six in larvae) that are light ...

'' and '' Tyrolichus casei''. These infest stored organic materials such as grains, flour,

dried fruit Dried fruit is fruit from which the majority of the original water content has been removed prior to cooking or being eaten on its own. Drying may occur either naturally, by sun, through the use of industrial dehydrators, or by freeze drying. ...

, milk products,

ham Ham is pork from a leg cut that has been preserved by wet or dry curing, with or without smoking."Bacon: Bacon and Ham Curing" in '' Chambers's Encyclopædia''. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 2, p. 39. As a processed meat, the term '' ...

cheese Cheese is a type of dairy product produced in a range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk (usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats or sheep). During prod ...

straw Straw is an agricultural byproduct consisting of the dry wikt:stalk, stalks of cereal plants after the grain and chaff have been removed. It makes up about half of the crop yield, yield by weight of cereal crops such as barley, oats, rice, ry ...

animal hides A hide or skin is an animal skin treated for human use. The word "hide" is related to the German word , which means skin. The industry defines hides as "skins" of large animals ''e.g''. cow, buffalo; while skins refer to "skins" of smaller animals ...

, invertebrate culture media, vertebrate bedding materials and

animal feed Animal feed is food given to domestic animals, especially livestock, in the course of animal husbandry. There are two basic types: fodder and forage. Used alone, the word ''feed'' more often refers to fodder. Animal feed is an important input ...

. They thrive in humid conditions and on damp materials. Acaridae can cause

dermatitis Dermatitis is a term used for different types of skin inflammation, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened ...

via piercing human skin (in attempts to feed) or via contact

allergen An allergen is an otherwise harmless substance that triggers an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals by stimulating an immune response. In technical terms, an allergen is an antigen that is capable of stimulating a type-I hypersensitivi ...

s. There are also Acaridae which are pests of living plants. These include the genus '' Rhizoglyphus'' (pests of plants with

bulb In botany, a bulb is a short underground stem with fleshy leaves or leaf basesBell, A.D. 1997. ''Plant form: an illustrated guide to flowering plant morphology''. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. that function as food storage organs duri ...

s) and the species ''T. longior'' (pest of some ornamental plants).

Genera

;Fagacarinae Fain & R. A. Norton, 1979 * '' Fagacarus'' Fain & R. A. Norton, 1979 ;Acarinae Nesbitt, 1945 * ''

Acarus ''Acarus'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae. Species * ''Acarus ananas'' (Tryon, 1898) * ''Acarus beschkovi'' (Mitov, 1994) * ''Acarus bomiensis'' Wang, 1982 * ''Acarus calcarabellus'' (Griffiths, 1965) * ''Acarus chaetoxysilos'' Griff ...

'' Linnaeus, 1758 * '' Aleuroglyphus'' Zachvatkin, 1940 * '' Ebertia'' Oudemans, 1924 * '' Podoglyphus'' Oudemans, 1937 * '' Tyrolichus'' Oudemans, 1924 * '' Tyroglyphites'' Pampaloni, 1902 * '' Tyrophagus'' Oudemans, 1924 ;Rhizoglyphinae Zakhvatkin, 1941 * '' Acarotalpa'' Volgin, 1966 * '' Acotyledon'' Oudemans, 1903 * '' Caloglyphus'' Berlese, 1923 * '' Cosmoglyphus'' Oudemans, 1932 * '' Froriepia'' Vitzthum, 1919 * '' Garsaultia'' Oudemans, 1916 * '' Histiogaster'' Berlese, 1883 * '' Horstia'' Oudemans, 1905 * '' Mycetoglyphus'' Oudemans, 1932 * '' Myrmoglyphus'' Vitzthum, 1935 * '' Rhizoglyphus'' Claparédè, 1869 * '' Sancassania'' Oudemans, 1916 * '' Schwiebea'' Oudemans, 1916 * '' Stereoglyphus'' Berlese, 1923 * '' Thyreophagus'' Rondani, 1874 * ''

Troglocoptes ''Troglocoptes'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''T ...

'' Fain, 1966 * ''

Valmontia ''Valmontia'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''Tyro ...

'' Oudemans, 1923 * '' Viedebanttia'' Oudemans, 1929 ;Pontoppidaniinae Oudemans, 1925 * '' Diphtheroglyphus'' Nesbitt, 1950 * '' Pontoppidania'' Oudemans, 1923 ;''

Incertae sedis or is a term used for a taxonomy (biology), taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...

'' * '' Aellenella'' S. Mahunka, 1978 * '' Apiacarus'' Volgin, 1974 * '' Amphicalvolia'' Türk, 1963 * '' Armacarus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Askinasia'' Yunker, 1970 * '' Australhypopus'' Fain & Friend, 1984 * '' Baloghella'' Mahunka, 1963 * '' Bembidioglyphus'' Klimov, 1998 * '' Boletacarus'' V. I. Volgin & S. V. Mironov, 1980 * '' Boletoglyphus'' Volgin, 1953 * '' Bromeliaglyphus'' H. H. J. Nesbitt, 1985 * '' Calvoliella'' Samsinak, 1969 * ''

Calvoliopsis ''Calvoliopsis'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''T ...

'' Mahunka, 1973 * '' Capillaroglyphus'' Klimov, 1998 * ''

Carabidobius ''Carabidobius'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''T ...

'' Volgin, 1953 * '' Cerophagopsis'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Chibidaria'' Sasa, 1952 * '' Contromelisia'' Samsinak, 1969 * '' Ctenocolletacarus'' Fain, 1984 * '' Diadasiopus'' OConnor, 1997 * '' Dynastopus'' Fain, 1978 * ''

Ewingia ''Ewingia'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''Tyroph ...

'' Pearse, 1929 * '' Fainoglyphus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Forcellinia'' Oudemans, 1924 * '' Ghanacarus'' Mahunka, 1973 * '' Halictacarus'' Mahunka, 1975 * '' Heteroglyphus'' Foa, 1897 * '' Hoogstraalacarus'' Yunker, 1970 * '' Horstiella'' Türk, 1949 * ''

Hortacarus ''Hortacarus'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''Tyr ...

'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Hyohondania'' Sasa, 1952 * '' Irianopus'' Fain, 1986 * '' Kanekobia'' Fain, C. E. Yunker, J. van Goethem & D. E. Johnston, 1982 * '' Kargoecius'' Fain, 1985 * '' Konoglyphus'' Delfinado & Baker, 1974 * '' Kuzinia'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Lackerbaueria'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Lamtoglyphus'' Fain, 1975 * '' Lasioacarus'' Kadzhyaya, 1968 * '' Lemmaniella'' Mahunka, 1977 * '' Lindquistia'' Mahunka, 1977 * '' Lowryacarus'' Fain, 1986 * '' Machadoglyphus'' Mahunka, 1963 * '' Madaglyphus'' Fain, 1971 * '' Mahunkaglyphus'' Eraky, 1998 * '' Mahunkallinia'' Eraky, 1999 * '' Mauracarus'' S. Mahunka, 1978 * '' Medeus'' Volgin, 1974 * '' Megachilopus'' Fain, 1974 * '' Mezorhizoglyphus'' Kadzhaya, 1966 * ''

Mycetosancassania ''Mycetosancassania'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' an ...

'' Klimov, 2000 * '' Myrmolichus'' Türk & Türk, 1957 * '' Naiacus'' H. H. J. Nesbitt, 1990 * '' Naiadacarus'' Fashing, 1974 * '' Neoacotyledon'' K. Samsinak, 1980 * '' Neohorstia'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Neotropacarus'' Baker, 1985 * '' Notiopsyllopus'' Fain, 1977 * '' Ocellacarus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Olafsenia'' Oudemans, 1927 * ''

Omentopus ''Omentopus'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae The Acaridae are a family of mites in order Sarcoptiformes. Distribution There are several acarid genera with cosmopolitan distributions, such as ''Acarus', Sancassania'' and ''Tyro ...

'' Fain, 1978 * '' Paraceroglyphus'' Fain & Beaucournu, 1979 * '' Paraforcellinia'' Kadzhaya, 1974 * '' Passaloglyphus'' Mahunka & Samsinak, 1972 * '' Paulacarellus'' Fain, 1976 * ''

Pelzneria ''Pelzneria'' is a genus of mites in the family Acaridae. Species of Pelzneria are most often associated with small vertebrate carrion, and most species are phoretic Phoresis or phoresy is a temporary Commensalism, commensalistic relationsh ...

'' Scheucher, in Stammer 1957 * '' Pinoglyphus'' S. Mahunka, 1978 * '' Psyllacarus'' Fain, F. Bartholomaeus, B. Cooke & J. C. Beaucournu, 1990 * '' Psylloglyphus'' Fain, 1966 * '' Psyllopus'' Fain & J. C. Beaucournu, 1993 * '' Reckiacarus'' G. Kadzhaya, 1972 * '' Rettacarus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Rhizoglyphoides'' V. I. Volgin, 1978 * '' Rodionovia'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Scatoglyphus'' Berlese, 1913 * '' Schulzea'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Sennertionyx'' Zachvatkin, 1941 * '' Setoglyphus'' S. Mahunka, 1979 * '' Sinolardoglyphus'' Z. T. Jiang, 1991 * '' Sinosuidasia'' Jiang, 1996 * '' Spinacaropus'' Fain & A. M. Camerik, 1978 * '' Terglyphus'' Samsinak, 1965 * '' Thectochloracarus'' Fain, Engel, Flechtmann & OConnor, 1999 * '' Trichopsyllopus'' Fain & G. T. Baker, 1983 * '' Troxocoptes'' Fain & J. R. Philips, 1983 * '' Umakefeq'' Klimov, 2000 * '' Volginia'' Kadzhaya, 1967

References

External links

* Stuart M. Bennett (2003)
''Acarus siro'' (Flour Mite)
{{Authority control Sarcoptiformes Acari families