Parasitidae is a family of predatory

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 the order

Mesostigmata 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 ca ...

that has worldwide distribution. They are the only family in the superfamily Parasitoidea. Relatively large for mites, their color is often yellowish to dark brown. The family as a whole preys on a wide variety of microarthropods and nematodes, with individual species usually having a narrower range of prey. The family contains two subfamilies, 29 genera, and around 400 species. The subfamily Pergamasinae is normally found in the soil, and dispersal via

phoresy Phoresis or phoresy is a temporary commensalistic relationship when an organism (a phoront or phoretic) attaches itself to a host organism solely for travel. It has been seen in ticks and mites since the 18th century, and in fossils 320 ...

is not known in this subfamily. It contains 9 genera. Most species are bisexual. The subfamily Parasitinae is normally found in nests of small animals or insects or in decaying organic matter, from seaweed to forest litter. This subfamily contains 20 genera. These mites disperse via

in the deuteronymph stage of their life cycle. The genus ''

Parasitellus ''Parasitellus'' (formerly ''Parasitus'') is a genus of mites in the family Parasitidae which are obligatory Parasitism, parasites of bumblebees. These mites can be found clinging to the carapace, sometimes in large numbers. Mites in this genus h ...

'' is associated with

bumblebees A bumblebee (or bumble bee, bumble-bee, or humble-bee) is any of over 250 species in the genus ''Bombus'', part of Apidae, one of the bee families. This genus is the only Extant taxon, extant group in the tribe Bombini, though a few extinct r ...

, and other genus with other bees, leading to the common name "bee mites". Other genera disperse on various

beetle Beetles are insects that form the Taxonomic rank, order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 40 ...

s, e.g. ''

Poecilochirus ''Poecilochirus'' is a Holarctic realm, Holarctic genus of mites in the family Parasitidae. They are relatively large (ca. 0.5-1mm) and often found on rotting corpses, where they are transported by beetles. Deuteronymphs are characterized by two ...

'' on burying beetles, leading to the name "beetle mites" which is also shared with the order of mites

Oribatida Oribatida (formerly Cryptostigmata), 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 . There are currently 12,000 species that have been i ...

, who have the name for a different reason.

Taxonomy

Parasitidae contains three taxonomic groups – two subfamilies and a group of genera not yet placed: Subfamily Parasitinae Oudemans, 1901 * ''

Gamasodes ''Gamasodes'' is a genus of mites in the family Parasitidae Parasitidae is a family of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata that has worldwide distribution. They are the only family in the superfamily Parasitoidea. Relatively large for mi ...

'' Oudemans, 1939 * '' Nemnichia'' Oudemans, 1936 * '' Oocarpais'' Berlese, 1916 * ''

'' Willmann, 1939 * '' Parasitus'' Latreille, 1795 * ''

'' G. Canestrini & R. Canestrini, 1882 * '' Porrhostaspis'' Mueller, 1859 * '' Trachygamasus'' Berlese, 1906 * '' Willmanniella'' Götz, 1969 Subfamily Pergamasinae Juvara-Bals, 1976 * ''

Cycetogamasus ''Cycetogamasus'' is a genus of mites in the family Parasitidae Parasitidae is a family of predatory mites in the order Mesostigmata that has worldwide distribution. They are the only family in the superfamily Parasitoidea. Relatively large fo ...

'' C. Athias-Henriot, 1980 * '' Heteroparasitus'' Juvara-Bals, 1976 * '' Holoparasitus'' Oudemans, 1936 * '' Ologamasiphis'' Holzmann, 1969 * ''

Pergamasus ''Pergamasus'' is a genus of mites in the family Parasitidae. Species * ''Pergamasus alpestris'' (Berlese, 1903) * ''Pergamasus alpinus'' (Berlese, 1903) * ''Pergamasus atushiensis'' (Ma & Ye, 1999) * ''Pergamasus barbarus'' (Ber ...

'' Berlese, 1903 Incertae sedis * '' Aclerogamasus'' Athias, 1971 * '' Anadenosternum'' C. Athias-Henriot, 1980 * '' Carpaidion'' C. Athias-Henriot, 1979 * '' Colpothylax'' C. Athias-Henriot, 1980 * ''

Cornigamasus ''Cornigamasus'' is a genus of mites in the family Parasitidae. Species * ''Cornigamasus coleoptratorum'' * ''Cornigamasus imitans'' Athias-Henriot, 1980 * ''Cornigamasus lunariformis'' Athias-Henriot, 1980 * ''Cornigamasus lunar ...

'' G. O. Evans & W. M. Till, 1979 * '' Dicrogamasus'' C. Athias-Henriot, 1980 * '' Erithosoma'' C. Athias-Henriot, 1979 * '' Leptogamasus'' Trägårdh, 1936 * '' Mixogamasus'' Juvara-Bals, 1972 * '' Paracarpais'' C. Athias-Henriot, 1978 * '' Pergamasellus'' Evans, 1957 * '' Phityogamasus'' Juvara-Bals & Athias-Henriot, 1972 * '' Phorytocarpais'' C. Athias-Henriot, 1979 * '' Psilogamasus'' Athias-Henriot, 1969 * '' Rhabdocarpais'' C. Athias-Henriot, 1981 * '' Schizosthetus'' C. Athias-Henriot, 1982 * '' Taiwanoparasitus'' Tseng, 1995 * '' Zelogamasus'' M. K. Hennessey & M. H. Farrier, 1989

References

External links

Bugguide
at

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{{Authority control Mesostigmata Taxa named by Anthonie Cornelis Oudemans Acari families