Desmonomatan  Mites  -  Infraorder:   Desmonomata
      The Suborder: Oribatida is subdivided into five* infraorders, three of which are represented in the Northern Rivers region.  Of the three, species of the Infraorder: Desmonomata are the most commonly seen.  
The Desmonomata, like most other mites, are generally described as having a holoid bodyform meaning that their idiosoma (their 'body') is one piece only.  The 'epimeral plates' II and III (from which legs II and III protrude) are fused, and, their 'genua' (singular: genu = the third of the five leg segments) are not  "reduced to 'knee-like' segments".  
      Desmonomatan mites, like other Oribatids are small beetle-like 'biting' mites that often have mineralised exoskeletons as adults.  Among them are counted some important parasitic species that prey on a variety of other animal species both invertebrate and vertebrate, often with fatal consequences.  Others are, and more commonly so,  limited to living in soil - where they are likely to outnumber any other type of invertebrates - or, they may spend their entire lives living on plants i.e. under tree bark for instance. 
*  =  Some sources list six infraorders.  The arrangement used here is as per iNaturlist April 2024.  In this arrangement the Desmonomata is a fusion of two of the other infraorders.  The name Desmonomata is synonymous with Desmonomatides.
      
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References  and  links:
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      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astigmatina​
​      https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/1227488-Brachypylina
      http://taxondiversity.fieldofscience.com/2014/12/desmonomata.html

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