Melicharidae

Melicharidae are mites characterized by: podonotal and opisthonotal shields usually fused; the third pair of sternal lyrifissures (iv3) situated off sternal shield (rarely absent) and usually on metasternal plates; peritrematic shield free posteriorly from, or narrowly fused with, exopodal shield beside coxa IV (except Orthadenella); fixed cheliceral digit usually with a hyaline lobe instead of a setiform pilus dentilis, and movable cheliceral digit usually with a pointed process (mucro) on mid-ventral face; genital shield usually gently rounded posteriorly; anal shield usually oval or elliptical, bearing only circumanal setae; and female spermathecal apparatus laelapid-type.^[1]

Melicharidae are free-living mites found in various habitats including soil, leaf litter, plants (e.g. bromeliads, pineapple flowers and false bird-of-paradise^[2]), rotten wood, stored products, seaweeds, animals, and the nests and excrement of animals.^[3][4] A large proportion of the family evolved to live on plants and these feed mostly on nectar and/or pollen.^[5] Other reported food items include nematodes, insect eggs and larvae, other mites and fungi.^[5]

Melicharids associated with animals may be phoretic on them. For example, species of genera Proctolaelaps, Rhinoseius and Tropicoseius are phoretic on hummingbirds.^[2]

Some species of Proctolaelaps are associated with bumblebees, though nothing else about their biology (e.g. how they feed) is known.^[6]

Melicharidae has more species in the Neotropical region (South America) than in anywhere else. This region also harbours the most endemic species of any region.^[7]

As of 2016, 11 genera were recognised in this family.^[4]

• Melichares Hering
• Mucroseius Lindquist
• Mycolaelaps Lindquist
• Orolaelaps De Leon
• Orthadenella Athias-Henriot
• Proctogastrolaelaps McGraw & Farrier
• Proctolaelaps Berlese
• Rhinoseius Baker & Yunker
• Spadiseius Lindquist & Moraza
• Tropicoseius Baker & Yunker
• Xanthippe Naskrecki & Colwell