Tydeidae is a family of acariform

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. As of 2016, it contained over 300 species in three subfamilies, though more species have been discovered since then. These mites live in a wide range of habitats and there are

predatory Predation is a biological interaction in which one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill ...

fungivorous Fungivory or mycophagy is the process of organisms consuming fungi. Many different organisms have been recorded to gain their energy from consuming fungi, including birds, mammals, insects, plants, amoebas, gastropods, nematodes, bacteria and othe ...

and

scavenging Scavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While scavenging generally refers to carnivores feeding on carrion, it is also a herbivorous feeding be ...

species.

Description

Tydeidae are soft-bodied mites with an idiosoma that is striated, reticulated or a combination of both. They have two bothridial

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 ...

. 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 ...

have fused bases, a movable digit that is relatively short and needle-like, and a fixed digit that is reduced. They may have two or three eyes, though some species are blind. Of the three subfamilies, Pretydeinae has no setae on the genu of legs II, III or IV, and the palptarsus has a triple eupathidium at the end. The other two subfamilies have one or two setae (Tydeinae) or three setae (Australotydeinae) on the genu of leg II, and the palptarsus ends in a double or triple eupathidium.

Ecology

Tydeids are among the most commonly encountered mites in arboreal habitats, including leaves, stems, tree trunks,

canopy soils Canopy soils, also known as arboreal soils, exist in areas of the forest canopy where branches, crevices, or some other physical feature on a tree can accumulate organic matter, such as leaves or fine branches. Eventually, this organic matter weath ...

, sporocarps and nests. They are also found in caves, soil, humus, litter, grass, straw, hay and stored products. Most tydeids are scavengers or fungivores, while some can feed on plants, pollen or animal prey. Various tydeid species are themselves preyed on by

phytoseiid 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 ...

mites. Species in several genera have been found in

beehives A beehive is an enclosed structure which houses honey bees, subgenus '' Apis.'' Honey bees live in the beehive, raising their young and producing honey as part of their seasonal cycle. Though the word ''beehive'' is used to describe the nest of ...

. The nature of their relationship with bees is uncertain.

Importance

Some species of ''

Tydeus Tydeus (; Ancient Greek: Τυδεύς ''Tūdeus'') was an Aetolian hero in Greek mythology, belonging to the generation before the Trojan War. He was one of the Seven against Thebes, and the father of Diomedes, who is frequently known by the patr ...

'' are medically important: '' T. interruptus'' may be a

reservoir A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation. Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...

for

scrapie Scrapie () is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the nervous systems of sheep and goats. It is one of several transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), and as such it is thought to be caused by a prion. Scrapie has been known sin ...

-like agents, while '' T. molestus'' causes itching and skin irritation in humans and domestic animals. '' Tydeus californicus'' and ''

Lorryia formosa ''Lorryia formosa'', commonly known as the yellow mite or the citrus yellow mite, is a species of acariform mite. They are in the subfamily Tydeinae of the family Tydeidae. Commonly found on the foliage of citrus trees around the world, ''Lorryi ...

'' can damage

citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. ''Citrus'' is nativ ...

plants. On the other hand, some tydeid species can benefit agriculture by suppressing (through their feeding)

powdery mildew Powdery mildew is a fungus, fungal disease that affects a wide range of plants. Powdery mildew diseases are caused by many different species of Ascomycota, ascomycete fungi in the order Erysiphales. Powdery mildew is one of the easier plant disea ...

and

downy mildew Downy mildew refers to any of several types of oomycete microbes that are obligate parasites of plants. Downy mildews exclusively belong to the Peronosporaceae family. In commercial agriculture, they are a particular problem for growers of c ...

Taxonomy

Tydeidae includes three subfamilies with the following genera: Australotydeinae *'' Australotydeus'' Pretydeinae *'' Novzelorryia'' *'' Prelorryia'' *'' Pretydeus'' *'' Ueckermannia'' Tydeinae *'' Acanthotydides'' *'' Afridiolorryia'' *'' Afrotydeus'' *'' Apolorryia'' *'' Brachytydeus'' *'' Edlorryia'' *'' Idiolorryia'' *'' Kenlorryia'' *'' Krantzlorryia'' *'' Lorryia'' *'' Melissotydeus'' *'' Metalorryia'' *'' Momenia'' *'' Neoapolorryia'' *'' Neolorryia'' *'' Nudilorryia'' *'' Orfareptydeus'' *'' Paralorryia'' *'' Perafrotydeus'' *'' Pseudolorryia'' *'' Quadrotydeus'' *'' Quasitydeus'' *''

'' *'' Tydides'' It once also included subfamilies Edbakerellinae, Pronematinae, Triophtydeinae and Tydaeolinae. Edbakerellinae and Triophtydeinae have since been moved into family Triophtydeidae, while Pronematinae and Tydaeolinae have been moved into family Iolinidae.

References

Tydeidae at Fauna Europaea
* Joel Hallan's Biology Catalog
Tydeidae

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q3545995 Trombidiformes Acari families