Parasitiformes
Encyclopedia
The Parasitiformes are a superorder of Acari (treated as a suborder in an outdated classification). Many species are parasitic (most famous of which are tick
s), but not all; for example, about half of the 10,000 known species in the suborder Mesostigmata
are predatory and cryptozoa
n, living in the soil-litter, rotting wood, dung, carrion, nests or house dust. A few species have switched to grazing on fungi or ingesting spore
s or pollen
.
The phytoseiid mites, which account for about 15% of all described Mesostigmata are used with great success for biological control.
There are over 12,000 described species of Parasitiformes, and the total estimate is between 100,000 and 200,000 species.
Tick
Ticks are small arachnids in the order Ixodida, along with mites, constitute the subclass Acarina. Ticks are ectoparasites , living by hematophagy on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians...
s), but not all; for example, about half of the 10,000 known species in the suborder Mesostigmata
Mesostigmata
Mesostigmata is an order of mites belonging to the Parasitiformes. Unlike most members of that group, many of these mites are not parasitic but free-living and predatory. They can be recognized by the single pair of spiracles positioned laterally on the body....
are predatory and cryptozoa
Cryptozoa
Cryptozoa is the collective name for the small animals that permanently live under conditions with high relative humidity. Many of them can be found in any sample of wet soil; a large part of the cryptozoa has not yet been identified by science....
n, living in the soil-litter, rotting wood, dung, carrion, nests or house dust. A few species have switched to grazing on fungi or ingesting spore
Spore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
s or pollen
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
.
The phytoseiid mites, which account for about 15% of all described Mesostigmata are used with great success for biological control.
There are over 12,000 described species of Parasitiformes, and the total estimate is between 100,000 and 200,000 species.