Leptus
Encyclopedia
Leptus is a genus 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 belonging to the family Erythraeidae
Erythraeidae
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,...

. These large mites are rather similar to members of the related genus Balaustium
Balaustium
Balaustium is a genus of mites belonging to the family Erythraeidae. These are large red mites with one or two pairs of eyes set well back on the body.-Species:Species include:*Balaustium angustum*Balaustium bipilum*Balaustium cristatum...

but can be distinguished by the eyes, which are set much further forward on the body than in Balaustium spp.

Selected species:
  • Leptus ariel Southcott, 1989
  • Leptus berlesei
  • Leptus clavatus
  • Leptus intermedius
    Leptus intermedius
    Leptus intermedius is a species of mite belonging to the family Erythraeidae. This is a large, oval mite with a total length of 1.7 mm. The body is densely hairy and there is one pair of eyes. The fourth pair of legs is longer than the body...

  • Leptus monteithi Southcott, 1993
  • Leptus vertiformis
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