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, especially the first and fourth pairs, are long and adapted for running. They have either one or two pairs of eyes and can be distinguished from related families microscopically by the presence of a single claw on the tibia of the palp.

Erythraeidae
Temporal range: Cretaceous–present
Erythraeus scopulifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Arachnida
Subclass:
Acari
Order:
Trombidiformes
(unranked):
Anystides
Superfamily:
Erythraeoidea
Family:
Erythraeidae

Oudemans, 1902
Genera include

Balaustium
Erythraeus
Leptus

Diversity
c. 60 genera, > 460 species

The larvae bite a hole into the cuticula of the host and use a stylostome, which acts like a drinking straw, to drink body fluids dissolved tissues.

The larvae of two described species of Leptus feed on bees: Leptus ariel lives on the European honey bee in Guatemala, and Leptus monteithi is a parasite of a Leioproctus species (Colletidae) in Tasmania.[1]

  • Larva on harvestman leg

Footnotes
  1. UMMZ: Genus Leptus Latreille, 1796 (with drawing of L. ariel)

References
  • Meyer, Magdalena K. P. & Ryke, P. A. J.: Nine new species of the superfamily Erythraeoidea (Acarina: Trombidiformes) associated with plants in South Africa. Acarologia I.
  • Joel Hallan's Biology Catalog: Erythraeidae
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