Histiostomatidae is a family of mites in the clade Astigmata.
Description These mites are characterized by a very small size (about 600–900 μm in length) and a close association to arthropods, mainly insects. A morphologically specialized instar, the deutonymph (earlier "hypopus"), is adapted to attach to arthropods for phoretic transport from one habitat to another. The mites use various insect groups as phoretic carriers such as beetles, flies and Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps). In all species, the digitus mobilis of the chelicera is reduced to small rests, and the distal pedipalp article is connected to a more or less complex membranous structure. These mouthpart modifications form an organ to feed on bacteria.
Habitats colonized by these mites include animal dung, compost, water-filled tree hollows and the fluids of Nepenthes and Sarracenia pitcher plants.
Genera The family contains the following genera:
Ameranoetus G. S. Ide & S. Mahunka, 1978 Amyzanoetus Fain, 1976 Ancyranoetus Fain & J. A. Santiago-Blay, 1993 Anoetoglyphus Vitzthum, 1927 Anoetus Dujardin, 1842 Aphodanoetus M. G. H. Bongers, B. M. OConnor & F. S. Lukoschus, 1985 Auricanoetus Fain & Zumpt, 1974 Austranoetus Fain, 1976 Bonomoia Bothyanoetus Fain & A. M. Camerik, 1978 Capronomoia Mahunka, 1976 Cederhjelmia Oudemans, 1931 Ceylanoetus Mahunka, 1974 Chiloanoetus Fain, 1974 Chiropteranoetus Womersley, 1942 Conglanoetus S. Mahunka, 1978 Copronomoia Mahunka, 1976 Creutzeria Oudemans, 1932 Curculanoetus Fain, 1974 Fibulanoetus Mahunka, 1973 Ghanoetus Mahunka, 1973 Glyphanoetus Oudemans, 1929 Histiostoma Kramer, 1876 Hormosianoetus Fain, 1980 Hymenanoetus Mahunka, 1963 Insulanoetus Sevastyanov, 1973 Kaszabanoetus Mahunka, 1976 Loxanoetus Fain, 1970 Momorangia Southcott, 1972 Munduytia Oudemans, 1929 Myianoetus Oudemans, 1929 Nepenthacarus Fashing, 2002 Otanoetus Fain & Zumpt, 1974 Ovanoetus Fain & J. L. van Goethem, 1985 Peripatetes Mahunka, 1976 Porrhanoetus Mahunka, 1963 Probonomoia Fain & G. Rack, 1987 Prowichmannia Radford, 1950 Psyllanoetus Fain & Beaucournu, 1974 Pteranoetus S. Mahunka, 1978 Rhaphidothrix Mahunka, 1967 Rhopalanoetus Scheucher in Stammer, 1957 Richardanoetus K. Samsinak, 1989 Sarraceniopus N. J. Fashing & B. M. OConnor, 1984 Scheucheria Mahunka, 1969 Scolianoetus Fain, 1974 Scutanoetus Mahunka, 1969 Seliea Oudemans, 1929 Semianoetus Mahunka, 1976 Spinanoetus Scheucher in Stammer, 1957 Stercoranoetus S. Mahunka & L. Mahunka-Papp, 1991 Synanoetus Mahunka, 1972 Syringanoetus Fain, 1980 Teinokyra Mahunka, 1973 Traskorchestianoetus Fain & M. J. Colloff, 1990 Xenanoetus Mahunka, 1969 Zwickia Oudemans, 1924
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