Trombidiformes

Trombidiformes
Trombidium holosericeum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Subclass:	Acari
Superorder:	Acariformes
Order:	Trombidiformes
Suborders
See text

The Trombidiformes are a large, diverse order of mites.

Taxonomy

In 1998, Trombidiformes was divided into the Sphaerolichida and the Prostigmata. 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 Demodex, the chiggers, and scrub-itch mites) and many agriculturally important species, including the spider mites (Tetranychidae) and gall mites (Eriophyidae).

The 2004 classification retained the two suborders, comprising around 125 families and more than 22,000 described species.

In the 2011 revised classification, the order now contains 151 families, 2235 genuses and 25,821 species, and there were another 10 species with 24 species that present only as fossils. These 151 families were classified into four major suborders：

• Sphaerolichida OConnor, 1984: Now contains only two superfamilies;
• Prostigmata Kramer, 1877: Still the biggest branch in this taxon, with four infraorders and 40 superfamilies;
• Endeostigmata Reuter, 1909: With five superfamilies, 10 families, 27 genus and 108 species;
• Oribatida van der Hammen, 1968: Contains five infraorders.

See also

• Alycus
• Bdellodes
• Eupodes

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Trombidiformes at Wikispecies