Content updated 2025.
Mites are classified as in the phylum Arthropoda, subphylum Chelicerata, class Arachnida. Mites consist of two major superorders: Acariformes and Parasitiformes. While these two superorders are well-defined and widely accepted according to both morphological and molecular evidence, there is no consensus as to whether Acari
Factsheet for:Acari
Glossary:Opilioacariformes:
an obsolescent supraordinal term used for the Opilioacarida.
(mites) themselves is a natural grouping, or Acari
Factsheet for:Acari
Glossary:Opilioacariformes:
an obsolescent supraordinal term used for the Opilioacarida.
is an artificial assemblage of microscopic arachnids, with Acariformes and Parasitiformes being unrelated to each other. The classification described below, outlined on the Mite classification page, and provided on each fact sheet, was updated in 2025. For the taxonomic framework followed by Dr. Walter in 2006, see here.
The superorder Acariformes consists of two orders: Trombidiformes and Sarcoptiformes, while the superorder Parasitiformes consists of four orders: Opilioacarida, Holothyrida, Ixodida (ticks), and Mesostigmata. The current state of higher-level mite classification (based on Zhang 2011Zhang 2011:
Zhang Z-Q. 2011. Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness. Zootaxa, 3148: 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3148.1.2, with modifications) is shown below, although some relationships may change in the future thanks to ongoing scientific research.
Asterisks indicate taxa relevant to agriculture, as they include plant-feeding pests, stored product pests, or predators of plant-feeding pests.
The phylogenetic placement of Endeostigmata remains a significant area of research, with important implications for understanding the early evolutionary history and classification of mites. Phylogenetic studies indicate that certain lineages within Endeostigmata may represent the earliest branches of Acariformes (i.e., diverging before the split between Trombidiformes and Sarcoptiformes), while others appear more closely related to Sarcoptiformes (Klimov et al. 2018Klimov et al. 2018:
Klimov PB, OConnor BM, Chetverikov PE, Bolton SJ, Pepato AR, Mortazavi AL, Tolstikov AV, Bauchan GR, Ochoa R. 2018. Comprehensive phylogeny of acariform mites (Acariformes) provides insights on the origin of the four-legged mites (Eriophyoidea), a long branch. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 119: 105–117.). Phylogenomic analysis further supported the placement of Endeostigmata as a basalbasal:
towards the base of a structure; on a limb, towards the insertion on the body.
lineage within Sarcoptiformes, although this was based on a limited number of sequenced endeostigmatidendeostigmatid:
incorrectly formed, but commonly used, adjectival form of Endeostigmata.
lineages (Klimov et al. 2021). Continued molecular and morphological studies will be essential for resolving the relationships of endeostigmatidendeostigmatid:
incorrectly formed, but commonly used, adjectival form of Endeostigmata.
mites within Acariformes.
A major recent development in mite systematics is the reclassification of Eriophyoidea, a significant group of plant-feeding mites, into the suborder Endeostigmata. Within Endeostigmata, eriophyoids are inferred to be closely related to the vermiform endeostigmatidendeostigmatid:
incorrectly formed, but commonly used, adjectival form of Endeostigmata.
family Nematalycidae, a relationship strongly supported by both morphological and molecular data (Bolton et al. 2017Bolton et al. 2017:
Bolton SJ, Chetverikov PE, Klompen H. 2017. Morphological support for a clade comprising two vermiform mite lineages: Eriophyoidea (Acariformes) and Nematalycidae (Acariformes). Systematic & Applied Acarology 22, 1096–1131., Klimov et al. 2018Klimov et al. 2018:
Klimov PB, OConnor BM, Chetverikov PE, Bolton SJ, Pepato AR, Mortazavi AL, Tolstikov AV, Bauchan GR, Ochoa R. 2018. Comprehensive phylogeny of acariform mites (Acariformes) provides insights on the origin of the four-legged mites (Eriophyoidea), a long branch. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 119: 105–117., 2021, Bolton et al. 2023). Previously, Eriophyoidea were classified under Trombidiformes (Zhang 2011Zhang 2011:
Zhang Z-Q. 2011. Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness. Zootaxa, 3148: 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3148.1.2).
Author: David E. Walter
Content last updated Sept. 2006, unless indicated otherwise
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