Trombidiformes
Encyclopedia
The Trombidiformes is a large, diverse order
of mite
s, comprising around 125 families and more than 22,000 described species. The group has few synapomorphies
by which it can be defined, unlike the other major group of acariform mites
, Sarcoptiformes
. Its members include medically important mites (such as the chiggers
and scrub itch mites) and many agriculturally important species, including the spider mites (Tetranychidae) and gall mites (Eriophyidae). Trombidiformes can be divided into Sphaerolichida and Prostigmata
.
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
of mite
Mite
Mites, along with ticks, are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.-Diversity and systematics:...
s, comprising around 125 families and more than 22,000 described species. The group has few synapomorphies
Synapomorphy
In cladistics, a synapomorphy or synapomorphic character is a trait that is shared by two or more taxa and their most recent common ancestor, whose ancestor in turn does not possess the trait. A synapomorphy is thus an apomorphy visible in multiple taxa, where the trait in question originates in...
by which it can be defined, unlike the other major group of acariform mites
Acariformes
The Acariformes are the more diverse of the two superorders of mites. There are over 32,000 described species in 351 families, and an estimated total of 440,000 to 929,000, including undescribed species.-Systematics and taxonomy:...
, Sarcoptiformes
Sarcoptiformes
Sarcoptiformes is an order of Acari....
. Its members include medically important mites (such as the chiggers
Trombiculidae
Trombiculidae is a family of mites called trombiculid mites Trombiculidae is a family of mites called trombiculid mites Trombiculidae is a family of mites called trombiculid mites (also called berry bugs; harvest mites; red bugs; scrub-itch mites; and aoutas. In their larval stage, those...
and scrub itch mites) and many agriculturally important species, including the spider mites (Tetranychidae) and gall mites (Eriophyidae). Trombidiformes can be divided into Sphaerolichida and Prostigmata
Prostigmata
The Prostigmata is a suborder of mites belonging to the Trombidiformes, which contain the "sucking" members of the "true mites" ....
.