Mixonomatan Mites - Infraorder: Mixonomata
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Also known as Box Mites, the Infraorder: Mixonomata is divided into two parvorders. The smaller of the two, the Dichosomata, contains about 75 species in five families, none of which appear to occur in Australia. The other, much larger Euptyctima, contains well over 1,300 species in four families and has a much more cosmopolitan distribution. Three of the four families are represented in Australia although records are scant. Occurrence of some species in the Northern Rivers is not confirmed so far but may well be possible.
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Box Mites are named after the roughly rectangular plates that cover the genital and anal openings on the ventral side of the mite. The mites are often capable of 'ptychoidy', a defence mechanism that allows the mite to fold its legs and head into the body and close the anterior shell-like 'aspis' (= the sclerotised shield over the aspidosoma, the front upper region of the prosoma) over it so as to present no soft, vulnerable parts to the outside world. Some ants and their larvae though, are quite adept at opening these little 'boxed' delicacies.
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With regards to appearance, Box Mites are among the larger of the Oribatid Mites and often do resemble small beetles in shape. Shades of brown are the most common colour. They may be found burrowing in woody litter and may also encountered on the bark of trees. Australian Phthiracarid mites have also been encountered with their body fully covered with soil which, presumably, is a means of passive defense. It may also explain why, so far, there have been so few sightings of them.
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Parvorder: Euptyctima
Superfamily: Phthiracaroidea
Family: Phthiracaridae
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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: Mixonomata
> Parvorder: Euptyctima
> Superfamily: Phthiracaroidea
> Family: Phthiracaridae ^
> Genus: ?
^ = possibly
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.
> https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/059ea23e-1814-4165-8b94-6f66f50e54dd#overview
> https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/mites/Invasive_Mite_Identification/key/0_Glossary/Mite_Glossary.htm
> https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/mites/Invasive_Mite_Identification/key/Major_Mite_taxa/Media/Html/Mixonomatides.htm
> https://macromite.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/box-mites/
> https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1467803909000358
> 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.
> https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/059ea23e-1814-4165-8b94-6f66f50e54dd#overview
> https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/mites/Invasive_Mite_Identification/key/0_Glossary/Mite_Glossary.htm
> https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/mites/Invasive_Mite_Identification/key/Major_Mite_taxa/Media/Html/Mixonomatides.htm
> https://macromite.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/box-mites/
> https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1467803909000358
Photographic Contributions: