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Subclass Acari - Mites and Ticks

Mite - Eutrombidium Mite - Poecilochirus Mite on Unfortunate Bee - Varroa destructor Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)? - Amblyomma tupelo gall mites - Aceria nyssae American Dog Tick - Dermacentor variabilis - Dermacentor variabilis - male Poecilochirus Fast red mite?
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Subclass Acari (Mites and Ticks)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Taxonomy follows(1)
Numbers
~50,000 described spp. worldwide (many times as many undescribed)
Identification
KEYS IN (2)
Remarks
Six-legged condition: Acarine larvae normally have 6 legs rather than 8, unless that feature has been lost secondarily. Some mites may have no legs at all at some life stages. This condition doesn't follow a particular taxonomic pattern, but is based more on species or life-stage ecology. Parasitic or phoretic mites, in particular, may lack some or even all legs. Some adult mites have 6 legs (one pair lost secondarily), e.g., in Metacheyletia spp. the hind legs are reduced or absent. (Jon Oliver's comments)
Many have complex symbiotic associations with the larger organisms on which they live.
Some are serious pests.
It may not be a monophyletic group.
Print References
(3)
Internet References
Works Cited
1.Synopsis of the described Arachnida of the World
2.Soil Biology Guide
Daniel Dindal, ed. 1990. Wiley-Interscience.
3.A manual of acarology, 3rd Ed.
G.W. Krantz and D.E. Walter. 2009. Texas Tech University Press.