Mesostigs

Order Mesostigmata

The Mesostigs (Order Mesostigmata) includes 12 species across 9 families and 40 genera in our directory.

About Mesostigs

Mesostigmata includes ~11,500 described species of predatory and parasitic mites. Many species are voracious predators of other mites, springtails, and small insects in soil and leaf litter.

Economic Impact

Predatory mesostigmatid mites are commercially produced for biological pest control. Phytoseiulus persimilis is one of the most widely sold biocontrol agents, used against spider mites in greenhouses worldwide - the market is worth hundreds of millions annually.

Ecological Role

Mesostigmatid mites are key regulators of soil arthropod communities. Some species are phoretic - they hitch rides on beetles and other insects to disperse to new habitats. Parasitic species include the varroa mite, the most devastating parasite of honey bees.

Families in Mesostigmata (9)

Species in Mesostigmata (12)

Amblyseius andersoni

Phytoseiidae

Identification: The long setae on the tip of the abdomen separate it from other phytoseiid predators in eastern apple orchards. An important predator of spider mites (Tetranychidae) and rust mites (Eriophyidae) on apple and grape along both coasts of

Amblyseius swirskii

Phytoseiidae

Introduced for biological control of greenhouse pests, especially thrips and greenhouse whitefly.

Tropical Rat Mite

Ornithonyssus bacoti

Macronyssidae

Can cause dermatitis in humans Possibly introduced from tropical areas

Varroa destructor

Varroidae

Identification: Adult females reddish-brown to dark brown, oval in shape. Adult males yellowish with lightly tanned legs, spherical body shape Introduced throughout the world (except Australia) from its native range in SE Asia (original host Apis cer

Western predatory mite

Typhlodromus occidentalis

Phytoseiidae

Identification: Pear shaped. First they are white. Later they take the color of their prey, usually red or brown. Used as primary biocontrol agent of pest mites on many crops. Its benefit to commercial apple, plum, peach, and cherry orchard farming i