Uropodidae
Oplitis pusaterii (dorsal)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Subclass:	Acari
Order:	Mesostigmata
Family:	Uropodidae Kramer, 1881

Uropodidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.^[1]

Description

As part of superfamily Uropodoidea, Uropodidae are tortoise-like mites with an oval to circular outline, and with armour both dorsally and ventrally. They can be distinguished from other uropodoids by their chelicerae lacking a large, sclerotized node and their genital opening being in an intercoxal position.^[2]

Ecology

Several species in the family commonly infest worm bins and consume food intended for the worms.^[3]

An undescribed species of Uropodidae sucks out the hemolymph of pupae of Pheidole megacephala ants, resulting in the death of pupae. It preferentially attacks pupae of soldier and male ants.^[4]

Uropodidae are phoretic on larger arthropods, meaning that they attach to larger arthropods to be transported to new places.^[5] This attachment is achieved using a pedicel of translucent material extruded from the mite's anus.^[5] One known host for uropodid mites is the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus),^[6] though this particular relationship may actually be parasitic, as mite-infested weevils have a shorter lifespan than uninfested weevils.^[7]

Species

References

Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Uropodidae
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