Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 2
Classification of the subclass Acari.
Superorder ANACTINOTRICHIDA
(= PARASITIFORMES)
Small to large, usually heavily sclerotized mites with body setae and leg setae non-birefringent under polarized
light; idiosoma with a suture (i.e. no sejugal furrow) between legs II and III; coxae of legs not fused to the
idiosoma.
Order NOTOSTIGMATA
(= Opilioacarida) -
a small group of uncertain relationship, not found in
northern Europe.
Order HOLOTHYRIDA
(= Holothyroidea; = Tetrastigmata) -
a small group of possibly predatory mites,
not found in Europe.
Order MESOSTIGMATA
(= Gamasida) (p. 77
et seq.)
Order IXODIDA
(= Ixodides; = Metastigmata) (p. 79)
Superorder ACTINOTRICHIDA
(= ACARIFORMES)
Mites with body setae and leg setae birefringent under polarized light; idiosoma usually with a sejugal furrow
between legs II and III, separating the propodosoma from the hysterosoma; coxae of legs fused to the
idiosoma. Usually weakly sclerotized mites (except for most oribatids).
Order PROSTIGMATA
(= Actinedida + Tarsonemida; = Trombidiformes) (p. 79
et seq.;
p. 225
et seq.)
Order ASTIGMATA
(= Acarida; = Sarcoptiformes
in part)
(p. 83
et seq.;
p. 269
et seq.)
Order CRYPTOSTIGMATA
(= Oribatida; = Sarcoptiformes
in part)
(p. 84; p. 270
et seq.)
EXAMPLES:
Dermanyssus gallinae
(chicken
mite),
Ornithonyssus sylviarum
(northern fowl
mite).
2. Family PHYTOSEIIDAE
Oval to elongate-oval, plant-dwelling mites with
fewer than 20 pairs of dorsal-shield setae
(Fig.
167);
dorsal shield weakly sclerotized but cover-
ing the idiosoma and undivided; pedipalpal
tarsus with a specialized two-pronged apotele.
Phytoseiids are of considerable economic impor-
tance; several species are of significance as
predators of small invertebrate pests, especially
gall mites and spider mites.
EXAMPLES:
Amblyseius
spp.,
Typhlodromus
spp.,
Phytoseiulus persimilis
(two-spotted
spider mite predator).
3. Family LAELAPTIDAE
A group of free-living (often predatory) or para-
Fig. 167
A phytoseiid mite,
Typhlodromus pyri -
sitic, usually brownish mites, many of the para-
family Phytoseiidae (xl50).
sitic forms being highly specialized. Dorsal shield
undivided and usually with more than 30 pairs of
setae; pedipalpal tarsus with a specialized two-
pronged apotele.
