Erythraeidae is a family of mites belonging to the Trombidiformes. Mites of this family are often referred to as long-legged velvet mites. Larval forms of these mites are parasitic on various other arthropods, for example harvestmen, but the adults are free-living predators. These oval mites are rather large, usually reddish-coloured and densely hairy. The legs, especially the first and fourth pairs, are long and adapted for running. They have either one or two pairs of eyes and can be distinguished from related families microscopically by the presence of a single claw on the tibia of the palp.
The larvae bite a hole into the cuticula of the host and use a stylostome, which acts like a drinking straw, to drink body fluids dissolved tissues.
The larvae of two described species of Leptus feed on bees: Leptus ariel lives on the European honey bee in Guatemala, and Leptus monteithi is a parasite of a Leioproctus species (Colletidae) in Tasmania.UMMZ: Genus Leptus Latreille, 1796 (with drawing of L. ariel)
Genera These 62 genera belong to the family Erythraeidae:
Subfamily Abrolophinae Witte, 1995 Abrolophus Berlese, 1891 Grandjeanella Southcott, 1961 Marantelophus Haitlinger, 2011 Nagoricanella Haitlinger, 2009 Pukakia Clark, 2014 Subfamily Balaustiinae Grandjean, 1947 Balaustium von Heyden, 1826 Bursaustium Haitlinger, 2000 Fozustium Haitlinger, 2005 Italustium Haitlinger, 2000 Lomeustium Haitlinger, 2007 Madinahustium Kamran & Alatawi, 2016 Micromaris Hirst, 1926 Microsmarialla Khot, 1963 Moldoustium Haitlinger, 2008 Monteustium Haitlinger & Sundic, 2015 Mypongia Southcott, 1961 Neobalaustium Willmann, 1951 Pollux Southcott, 1961 Wartookia Southcott, 1961 Subfamily Callidosomatinae Southcott, 1957 Abrolophus Berlese, 1891 Andrevella Southcott, 1961 Caeculisoma Berlese, 1888 Callidosoma Womersley, 1936 Carastrum Southcott, 1988 Cecidopus Karsch, 1879 Charletonia Oudemans, 1910 Dambullaeus Haitlinger, 2001 Harpagella Southcott, 1996 Hauptmannia A.C. Oudemans, 1910 Iguatonia Haitlinger, 2004 Momorangia Southcott, 1972 Nagoricanella Haitlinger, 2009 Neoabrolophus Khot, 1965 Neomomorangia Fain & Santiago-Blay, 1993 Pukakia Clark, 2014 Pussardia Southcott, 1961 Subfamily Erythraeinae Robineau-Desvoidy, 1828 Augustsonella Southcott, 1961 Claverythraeus Trägårdh, 1937 Collemboerythraeus Noei et al., 2017 Curteria Southcott, 1961 Eatoniana Cambridge, 1898 Erythraeus Latreille, 1806 Erythraxus Southcott, 1961 Erythrellus Southcott, 1946 Erythrites Southcott, 1961 Erythroides Southcott, 1946 Forania Southcott, 1961 Helladerythraeus Beron, 1988 Kakamasia Lawrence, 1944 Kamertonia Gabrys, 2000 Lasioerythraeus Welbourn & Young, 1987 Makolia Saboori et al., 2009 Neophanolophus Shiba, 1976 Neosmaris Hirst, 1926 Paraphanolophus Smiley, 1968 Pararainbowia Dunlop, 2007 Podosmaridia Trägårdh, 1937 Proterythraeus Vercammen-Grandjean, 1973 Rainbowia Southcott, 1961 Ramsayella Z.-Q. Zhang, 2000 Taranakia Southcott, 1988 Tepoztlana Hoffmann & Mendez, 1973 Subfamily Leptinae Billberg, 1820 Leptus Latreille, 1796 Subfamily Myrmicotrombiinae Southcott, 1957 Myrmicotrombium Womersley, 1934 Subfamily Phanolophinae Southcott, 1946 Iraniella Karimi Iravanlou et al., 2002 Phanolophus André, 1927
Footnotes
References Meyer, Magdalena K. P. & Ryke, P. A. J.: Nine new species of the superfamily Erythraeoidea (Acarina: Trombidiformes) associated with plants in South Africa. Acarologia I. Joel Hallan's Biology Catalog: Erythraeidae
External links InsectImages.org: Pictures of a Leptus sp.