Sphaerolichida

Superorder Acariformes

  Order Trombidiformes

 Suborder Sphaerolichida

 Cohort Sphaerolichina (two recognised families, Sphaerolichidae, Lordalychidae)

 

Common names: sphaerolichids, lordalychids

 

Probability of Encounter: very low

 

Quarantine importance: The mites in this suborder are poorly known and of no known economic importance.  Sphaerolichids are probably ambush predators and lordalychids are probably fungivores.

 

Diagnosis.  Globular, soft-bodied mites, white, yellow, yellow brown, pink or red in colour.  Prodorsum with 2 pairs of filamentous trichobothria (sci, vi) and one (sce) to four (in, ve, exp) pairs of setae; naso nude (anterior pair of trichobothria may be inserted near its base) or absent; median eye present on underside of naso or absent, 0-2 pairs of lateral eyes; rutella absent.  Body chaetome reduced, setae c3-4 absent, segments AN and PA not added during ontogeny.  Rutella absent, palps with 4-5 free segments, chelicerae each with 2 setae.

 

Similar mites.  Sphaerolichida (Sphaerolichidae, Lordalychidae) used to be considered Endeostigmata, but are now considered the sister group to the Prostigmata.  However, sphaerolichids have only 2 pairs of setae in the first row of the hysterosoma and lack rutella.

 

Ecology & Distribution.  Australian species of Sphaerolichus are a bright pink in life and move slowly while waving their highly modified front legs.  They climb readily and may be ambush predators, although guts of South African species have been reported to contain fungal material.  Lordalychids (Hybalicus) are distinctive mites with globular bodies and strongly ornamented cuticle and are common worldwide.  Little is known about the biology of any species, although species of Hybalicus often have poorly consolidated fungal materials in their guts and an inactive prelarva with well developed dorsal setae.

 

References

Gilyarov, M.S. (ed.) 1978.  Identification key of soil inhabiting mites. Trombidiformes.  Nauka: Moscow [In Russian].

Grandjean F.  1939.  Quelques genres d’acariens appartenant au groupe des Endeostigmata.  Ann. Sci. nat. Zool.  11(ser. 2):1-122.

Kethley JB.  1982.  Endeostigmata.  pp. 118-120, In: Parker SP (ed.)  Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms.  McGraw-Hill, NY.

Kethley JB.  1990.  Acarina: Prostigmata (Actinedida).  pp. 667-756, In: DL Dindal (ed), Soil Biology Guide.  John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane.

Krantz GW.  1976.  A Manual of Acarology.  OSU Bookstores: Corvallis.

Theron PD & Ryke PAJ.  1975.  Five new species of the family Lordalychidae (Acari: Endeostigmata) from South Africa.  Acarologia 17: 631-651.

Theron PD & Ryke PAJ.  1975.  Three new species of the family Sphaerolichidae (Acari: Endeostigmata) from South Africa.  Acarologia 220-235.

Walter DE.  1988.  Predation and mycophagy by endeostigmatid mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata).  Experimental & Applied Acarology 4: 159-166.