''Anystis'' (whirligig mites) is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
mites
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 ...
. They are predatory on other mites and small insects. Species in this genus are often red, long-legged, and range in size from 500
μm
The micrometre (Commonwealth English as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American English), also commonly known by the non-SI term micron, is a unit of length in the International System ...
– 1500μm.
[ ] Both the genus and the family
Anystidae
Anystidae is a family (biology), family of mites, based on the genus ''Anystis''. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, and contains "generalist predators found on a variety of habitats".
References
External links
*
Trombidiforme ...
are referred to as whirligig mites.
Identification
Members of the genus have broad and short bodies (almost
trapezoidal
In geometry, a trapezoid () in North American English, or trapezium () in British English, is a quadrilateral that has at least one pair of parallel sides.
The parallel sides are called the ''bases'' of the trapezoid. The other two sides are ...
) with two pairs of eyes. They have a prodorsal shield – the large covering on the anterior of the body – which is indented posteriorly (kidney-shaped). Two pairs of eyes are located posteriorly and laterally to the prodorsal shield. From the shield arise two long pairs of hair-like
setae
In biology, setae (; seta ; ) are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.
Animal setae
Protostomes
Depending partly on their form and function, protostome setae may be called macrotrichia, chaetae ...
and a pair of similarly shaped sensory organs (
sensilla
A sensillum (plural ''sensilla'') is an arthropod sensory organ protruding from the cuticle of exoskeleton, or sometimes lying within or beneath it. Sensilla appear as small hairs or pegs over an individual's body. Inside each sensillum there are ...
). Another pair of sensilla are found on the anterior portion of the mite's main body, the idiosoma. The
chelicerae
The chelicerae () are the arthropod mouthparts, mouthparts of the subphylum Chelicerata, an arthropod group that includes arachnids, horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. Commonly referred to as "jaws", chelicerae may be shaped as either articulated ...
, specialized mouthparts, each have a pair of hook-shaped chela on the distal portion and a pair of setae as well. The tarsus, the last segment of the leg, ends in two claws (which may be (combed, toothed or pilose) and has a claw- or bell-like empodium (a structure between the claws).
Agricultural use
The species ''
Anystis baccarum'' has been used as a form of
biological pest control
Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, whether pest animals such as insects and mites, weeds, or pathogens affecting animals or plants by using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or ot ...
in
apple
An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...
orchards due to their predation of ''
Panonychus ulmi
''Panonychus ulmi'', the European red mite, is a species of mite which is a major agricultural pest of fruit trees. It has a high reproductive rate, a short generation time (21 days at ) and produces many broods in a year, all of which contribute ...
,'' a mite species that causes massive economic loss in apple trees. Though ''A. baccarum'' is the most well known and exemplary member of the genus, it is unknown if other species may be able to fill a similar role to it in terms of pest control.
Species
Species include:
*''
Anystis agilis''
*''
Anystis andrei''
*''
Anystis baccarum''
*''
Anystis berlesi''
*''
Anystis borussica''
*''
Anystis coccinea''
*''
Anystis cornigerum''
*''
Anystis cursorium''
*''
Anystis germanica''
*''
Anystis pallescens''
*''
Anystis pini''
*''
Anystis rabuscula''
*''
Anystis salicinus''
*''
Anystis sellnicki''
*''
Anystis triangularis
''Anystis'' (whirligig mites) is a genus of Mite, mites. They are predatory on other mites and small insects. Species in this genus are often red, long-legged, and range in size from 500Micrometre, μm – 1500μm. Both the genus and the family ...
''
*''
Anystis vitis''
*''
Anystis voigtsi''
*''
Anystis wallacei''
References
External links
*
Bugguide.net. Genus ''Anystis'' - Whirligig Mites
Trombidiformes genera
{{Trombidiformes-stub