Taxonomic Position

Cohort Uropodina

    Subcohort Uropodiae

    Superfamily Uropodoidea Kramer, Family Uropodidae Kramer s.l.

 Uroactiniidae Hirschmann & Zirngiebl-Nicol

Uroactinia Sellnick

Diagnostic characters:

• Uropodid mites with a large, flower-like or mushroom-shaped membranous excrescence on the tip of the fixed digit

• Sclerotized node present

• Pilus dentilis absent

• Pedofossae (fovae pedales) and metapodal lines present

• Peritreme sinuate

• Dorsal shield entire.

Similar taxa.  Many uropodoids are similar in general appearance, but the flower-like process on the chelicera is unique to Uroactinea.  The confamilial genus Chiropturopoda has a similar process that is not fringed and looks more like a mushroom.

Ecology. Uroactinia agitans (Banks) may reach high numbers in commercial worm bed or other accumulations of organic matter.

References

Ainscough, BD.  1981.  Uropodine studies. I. Suprageneric classification in the cohort Uropodina Kramer, 1882 (Acari: Mesostigmata).  International Journal of Acarology 7:47-56.

Karg W.  1989.  Acari (Acarina), Milben Unterordnung Parasitiformes (Anactinotrichaeta) Uropodina Kramer, Schildkrötenmilben.  Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 67: 1-203.

Krantz, GW & Ainscough, B.  1990.  Mesostigmata.  pp. 583-665, in DL Dindal (ed) Soil Biology Guide.  John Wiley & Sons: Brisbane.

Wisniewski, J. and W. Hirschmann  1993.  Katalog der Ganggattungen, Untergattungen, Gruppen   und Arten die Uropodiden der Erde.  Gangsyst. Parasitiformes, Schriften. für vergleich.  Milbenkunde Folge 40: 466pp.  Hirschmann Verlag, Nürnberg.