Cheyletidae
Family of mites
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cheyletidae is a family of mites in the order Trombidiformes. Some Cheyletiella spp. are parasites of mammals, causing cheyletiellosis or "walking dandruff".[2] Others are free-ranging predators which can be found in soil, forest litter, animal nests, and house dust, under tree bark, and on foliage.[3] Cheyletids may occur in corpses, where they feed on other mites and on nematodes.[4]
| Cheyletidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cheyletiella sp. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Trombidiformes |
| Superfamily: | Cheyletoidea |
| Family: | Cheyletidae Leach, 1815 |
| Genera | |
| |
| Diversity | |
| c. 80 genera, > 500 species | |
Description
Cheyletidae have short stylet-like chelicerae and large pincer-like palps. The palp tarsus is short and usually bears comb-like and sickle-like setae, and is located on the posterior part of the palp tibia. The palp tibia has a strong claw which extends beyond the palp tarsus. The body may have zero, one or multiple dorsal plates.[5]
Gallery
Cheletophyes torridae
Nodele conquistador on bee Aztecanthidium tenochtitlanicum
