Erythraeidae

Taxobox
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Chelicerata
classis = Arachnida
subclassis = Acari
superordo = Acariformes

ordo = Prostigmata
subordo = Anystina
unranked_familia = Parasitengona
superfamilia = Erythraeoidea
familia = Erythraeidae
familia_authority = Oudemans, 1902
diversity_link = Erythraeidae
diversity = c. 60 genera, > 460 species
subdivision_ranks = Genera include
subdivision ="Balaustium"
"Erythraeus"
"Leptus"

Erythraeidae is a family of mites belonging to the Trombidiformes. Larval forms of these mites are parasitic on various other arthropods, for example harvestmen, but the adults are free-living predators. These oval mites are rather large, usually reddish coloured and densely hairy. The legs, especially the first and fourth pairs, are long and adapted for running. They have either one or two pairs of eyes and can be distinguished from related families microsopically by the presence of a single claw on the tibia of the palp.

The larvae bite a hole into the cuticula of the host and use a stylostome, which acts like a drinking straw, to drink body fluids dissolved tissues.

The larvae of two described species of "Leptus" feed on bees: "Leptus ariel" lives on the European honey bee in Guatemala, and "Leptus monteithi" is a parasite of a "Leioproctus" species (Colletidae) in Tasmania [UMMZ: [http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/beemites/Species_Accounts/Erythraeidae.htm Genus "Leptus" Latreille, 1796] (with drawing of "L. ariel")] .

Footnotes

References

* aut|Meyer, Magdalena K.P. & Ryke, P.A.J: Nine new species of the superfamily Erythraeoidea (Acarina: Trombidiformes) associated with plants in South Africa. "Acarologia I".
*'s Biology Catalog: [http://insects.tamu.edu/research/collection/hallan/Acari/Family/Erythraeidae.txt Erythraeidae]

External links

* InsectImages.org: [http://www.insectimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?SUB=11492 Pictures of a "Leptus" sp.]