Enarthronote Mites - Infraorder: Enarthronata
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The Enarthronata are an infraorder of small to minute oribatid mites that consists of eight superfamilies and up to 22 families two of which are extinct. Most species are of microscopic size and only the 'giants' of the group - those belonging to the Family: Lohmanniidae - are occassionally encountered. They seem to prefer drier environments and some species can be found in house dust as well as stored products. Many of the enarthronote 650 odd species are fungivores that live in dry soils although some, such as the Brachychthonoidea may be found just about anywhere feeding on algae and microbes.
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Enarthronata as a group are quite diverse in bodyform, some are flattened, others more rounded or globular. Yet others are highly decorated with long, erect setae covering the body and/or legs. Presumably, this particular feature may assist with camouflage or self defence. And, while on that subject, some are well sclerotised and there are a number of species that display 'ptychoidy'. This is the ability to fully withdraw the legs into the prosoma. This makes the mite look 'like a little seed' which may offer protection from small predators. It could also be used to weather adverse environmental conditions.
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They are amongst the oldest mites known; fossil finds of the two extinct families have been dated at upto 393 My old originating in the early Devonian. Fossils of species assigned to three extant families have been dated to the Carboniferous and are up to 336 My old. All were found in Northern Ireland.
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Superfamily: Lohmannioidea
Family: Lohmanniidae
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Genus ?
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Taxonomy:
Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
> Subphylum: Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
> Class: Arachnida (Arachnids)
> Subclass: Acari (Mites and Ticks)
> Superorder: Acariformes
> Order: Sarcoptiformes
> Suborder: Oribatida (Beetle Mites)
> Infraorder: Enarthronata
> Superfamily: Lohmannioidea
> Family: Lohmanniidae
> Genus: ?
References and links:
> Sanders, F.H., Norton, R,A., (2004). ‘Anatomy and function of the ptychoid defensive mechanism in the mite Euphthiracarus cooki (Acari: Oribatida).’ J Morphol. 2004 Feb, 259(2): 119-54. doi: 10.1002/jmor.10183.
> Subías, L.S., Arillo, A., (2002). ‘Oribatid mite fossils from the Upper Devonian of South Mountain, New York and the Lower Carboniferous of County Antrim, Northern Ireland (Acariformes, Oribatida).’ Estudios del Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava 17, 93-106.
https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/93MP7
https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/mites/Invasive_Mite_Identification/key/Major_Mite_taxa/Media/Html/Enarthronotides.htm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14755747/
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-6135282.html
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-7965854.html
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-7414.html
> Sanders, F.H., Norton, R,A., (2004). ‘Anatomy and function of the ptychoid defensive mechanism in the mite Euphthiracarus cooki (Acari: Oribatida).’ J Morphol. 2004 Feb, 259(2): 119-54. doi: 10.1002/jmor.10183.
> Subías, L.S., Arillo, A., (2002). ‘Oribatid mite fossils from the Upper Devonian of South Mountain, New York and the Lower Carboniferous of County Antrim, Northern Ireland (Acariformes, Oribatida).’ Estudios del Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava 17, 93-106.
https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/93MP7
https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/mites/Invasive_Mite_Identification/key/Major_Mite_taxa/Media/Html/Enarthronotides.htm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14755747/
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-6135282.html
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-7965854.html
https://www.mindat.org/taxon-7414.html
Photographic Contributions: