Mites

Order Trombidiformes

The Mites (Order Trombidiformes) includes 74 species across 22 families and 104 genera in our directory.

About Mites

Trombidiformes includes ~26,000 described species of mites including velvet mites, chiggers, and spider mites. Spider mites (Tetranychidae) are among the most destructive agricultural pests worldwide.

Economic Impact

Spider mites cause billions of dollars in crop damage globally, affecting over 1,100 plant species. The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) has developed resistance to more pesticides than any other arthropod.

Ecological Role

Velvet mites are important soil predators. Chigger larvae are parasitic on vertebrates and can cause intense itching (trombidiosis). Some mite species are used as biological control agents against pest mites in agriculture.

Families in Trombidiformes (22)

Species in Trombidiformes (74)

Aceria baccharices

Eriophyidae

Causes irregular, wartlike, rough-looking galls on the upper surface of leaves of seep willow ( Baccharis glutinosa ) and mule-fat ( B. viminea ).

Aceria caulis

Eriophyidae

Causes a pubescent gall on black walnut petioles, passing from greenish through pink and crimson to reddish brown.

Aceria lantanae

Eriophyidae

Galls on yellow sage ( Lantana camara ) are described as "deformed flowers, mass of small leaflike outgrowths."

Aceria mackiei

Eriophyidae

Identification: Creates 2-4+ mm pockets (indentations) on underside of oak leaves with hairs that may be rusty brown, white, pink, or red. The pockets appear as bumps on the dorsal side of the leaves. Eriophyes mackiei is possibly the only oak-gallin

Aculops ailanthii

Eriophyidae

An introduced species. It is hoped that it can be used as a biological control of the invasive tree of heaven ( Ailanthus altissima ).

Aculops euphorbicolus

Eriophyidae

The mites produce deformed flower clusters or galls.

Almond and plum bud gall mite

Acalitus phloeocoptes

Eriophyidae

Identification: "On almond the mite produces permanent irregular galls of various sizes around buds. It also deforms fruit spurs. The entire physiology of the attacked almond tree becomes upset: fruit buds fail to form, trees lose vigor, and damage a

Arrenurus problecornis

Arrenuridae

Identification: Arrenurus Key - Risk, T. 2022. A key to Arrenurus spp. (Males) in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection reference collection [Based on keys or descriptions in Rutter (1999)] Located at Florida Department of Environmental

Chrysomelobia labidomerae

Podapolipidae

Adults are transmitted horizontally through host-host contact, especially during copulation. The parasite has a small negative effect on host fitness.

Eriophyes cerasicrumena

Eriophyidae

Identification: Mites so small that a microscope is needed. Better identified by the pouch-like galls.

Eriophyes prunidemissae

Eriophyidae

Eriophyes prunidemissae is an inquiline within the finger-like pouch galls on leaves of various plums and cherries ( Prunus spp.) formed by E. emarginatae . It may be distinguished from the E. emarginatae female by having microtubercles on its abdomi

European Red Mite

Panonychus ulmi

Tetranychidae

Native to Europe. Introduced into the Pacific Northwest in the early 1900s, first recorded in Oregon in 1911

Hemp Russet Mite

Aculops cannabicola

Eriophyidae

Page creation based on the identification of these images by John McPartland, a leading authority on pests and diseases of Cannabis. Probably an introduced species, along with its food plant.

Maple Bladdergall Mite

Vasates quadripedes

Eriophyidae

Created up to 3mm bladder-like galls which begin light colored or yellowish green then turn to reddish then to black; they appear as mini green peppers standing on stalks about the leaf surface.

Maple Spindlegall Mite

Vasates aceriscrumena

Eriophyidae

Identification: See images here. Don't cause serious damage but can be unsightly

Poplar Bud Gall Mite

Aceria parapopuli

Eriophyidae

Identification: Associated with trees of the genus Populus : aspens, poplars and cottonwoods. Hard, woody, cauliflower-like galls 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 inches) in diameter. Dark green early in the season, turning to a brick-red or blackish-brown colo

Spruce Spider Mite

Oligonychus ununguis

Tetranychidae

Spruce Spider Mite (Oligonychus ununguis) is a species in the family Tetranychidae, commonly known as spider mites, belonging to the order Trombidiformes. It is classified within the subfamily Tetranychinae, suborder Prostigmata, superfamily Tetranyc

Trisetacus ramosus

Phytoptidae

Hodgkiss 1918 provides the only published description. There are no line drawings or images published. From Smith 1984 , "Published descriptions of T. quadrisetus and T. ramosus are inadequate, and until type, or at least topotype, specimens are avai