Ascidae

Females of Zercoseius spathuliger

The Ascidae are a family of predatory mites ( gamasid ). They are found worldwide.

Way of life

The majority of the species of this family are free-living, predatory insects they feed on eggs, young stages of other mites and roundworms and their eggs. Some species eat the mycelium of fungi, some are parasitic. Most species are associated with certain types of insects such as bumble bees or bees, which they use to Phoresy. Some genera are also found in the noses of birds.

System

There are two subfamilies, the Arctoseiinae, mainly the genus Arctoseius are on the northern hemisphere up in Arctic areas spread. The Ascinae however, are found only in tropical and subtropical areas. The family includes about 40 genera worldwide:

• Aceoseius Sellnick, 1941
• Adhaerenseius G. Loots C. & P. D. Theron, 1992
• Africoseius Krantz, 1962
• Athias - Henriot Anephiasca, 1969
• Antennoseius Berlese, 1916
• Anystipalpus Berlese, 1911
• Arctoseius Sig Thor, 1930
• Arrhenoseius Walter & Lindquist, 2001
• Asca v. Heyden, 1826
• Athiashenriotis Hüseyin Özdikmen, 2008 ( formerly Arctopsis Athias - Henriot, 1973 ( preoccupied by Arctopsis Barnard, 1920, a crustacean ) )
• Blattisocius Keegan, 1944
• Cheiroseiulus G. O. Evans & A. S. Baker, 1991
• Cheiroseius Berlese, 1916
• Diseius Lindquist & Evans, 1965
• Ectoantennoseius Walter, 1998
• Athias - Henriot Gamasellodes, 1961
• Hoploseius Berlese, 1914
• Iphidozercon Berlese, 1903
• Laelaptoseius Womersley, 1960
• Lasioseius Berlese, 1916
• Leioseius Berlese, 1916
• Melichares herring, 1838
• Mycolaelaps Lindquist, 1995
• Neojordensia Evans, 1957
• Orolaelaps de Leon, 1963
• Athias - Henriot Orthadenella, 1973
• Platyseius Berlese, 1916
• Plesiosejus Evans, 1960
• Proctogastrolaelaps McGraw & Farrier, 1969
• Paraproctolaelaps Bregetova, 1977
• Proctolaelaps Berlese, 1923
• Protogamasellus Karg, 1962
• Rettenmeyerius Elzinga, 1998
• Rhinoseius Baker & Yunker, 1964
• Tropicoseius Baker & Yunker, 1964
• Xanthippe Naskrecki & Colwell, 1995
• Xenoseius Lindquist & Evans, 1965
• Zerconopsis Hull, 1918
• Zercoseius Berlese, 1916