Prostigmata (parasitic mites)

Arachnida (parasites/med.) • veterinary/medical pests • pests-diseases-weeds

Trombiculosis sores from chigger bites on human ankle skin, Alabama, USA. (click on image to enlarge it)
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Prostigmata (parasitic mites)

The members of this group have a number of common morphological characters like a pair of stigmata (spiracles) at the base of the chelicerae, if stigmata are present. Further, they have large pedipalps (with 3-5 segments) and the chelicerae are rarely scissor-like.

This page only deals with parasitic mites of medical or veterinary importance. For plant parasitic and storage pests in this group see Prostigmata (plant parasitic and storage mites).

The following families are currently included under Prostigmata (mites of medical or veterinary importance):

• Trombiculidae (chigger mites) (5 species)
• Demodecidae (hair follicle mites) (3 species)