Ascidae (predators)

predatory mites • beneficials/natural enemies

Proctolaelaps longisetosus (click on image to enlarge it)
Author: Pavel Klimov
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Ascidae (predators)

This family contains around 40 genera of mites. Many are predators of insect eggs or feed on other mites. For example, species of the genus Blattisocius prey on eggs and other mites in and on stored products like on flour mites or on eggs of the flour moth. Aparts from stored product environments, species of Ascidae are common in leaf litter, soil, bark and nests of vertebrates. A number of species are also associated with bee hives (bee mites).

The following genera and species are currently entered in the system:

• Blattisocius (genus - predators)
• Lasioseius (genus - predators)
• Proctolaelaps (genus - predators)