Stigmaeidae (predators)
From Pestinfo-Wiki
dorsal plates of Stigmaeus (click on image to enlarge it)
Author: F.M. Summers
Source: Acaralogia (1966), vol. 8, p. 231
Author: F.M. Summers
Source: Acaralogia (1966), vol. 8, p. 231
Agistemus aimogastaensis, palp - Author: Sergio Leiva, Nestor Fernandez, Pieter Theron and Christine Rollard
Source: ZooKeys (2013), 312, p. 68
Source: ZooKeys (2013), 312, p. 68
Stigmaeidae (predators)
This is a large family of predatory mites with more than 500 species. They prey mainly on phytophagous mites like gall mites (Eriophyidae) or spider mites (Tetranychidae), but eggs and crawlers of scale insects may be also attacked by some species (e.g. see El-Sawi & Momen, 2006). Zetzellia mali is a common and widely distributed member of this family which preys on various phytophagous mites.
Species of Stigmaeidae are mostly reddish or yellowish in colouration with short and stylet-like chelicerae. The palps have a so-called "thumb-claw" process. In addition, the dorsal side, but not the ventral side, has one or several plates.
The following genera and individual species are currently entered in the system:
