Biology:Smarididae

Short description: Family of mites

Smarididae Temporal range: Cretaceous–present PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Superorder:	Acariformes
Order:	Trombidiformes
Superfamily:	Erythraeoidea
Family:	Smarididae Kramer, 1878
Genera include
Fessonia Smaris †Immensmaris

Smarididae, probably Hirstiosoma novaehollandiae

Fossil Smarididae in Cretaceous amber (Burmite) from Hkamti, Myanmar.

Smarididae is a family of mites belonging to the order Trombidiformes. These large predatory mites have long oval bodies, distinctively pointed in front. They are usually red and densely hairy with slender legs, sometimes very long. They have either one or two pairs of eyes.

Fossil record

The Cretaceous smaridid Immensmaris chewbaccei had idiosoma of more than 8 mm (0.31 in) in length and was the largest fossil acariform mite and also the largest erythraeoid mite ever recorded.

Further reading

• Nine new species of the superfamily Erythraeoidea (Acarina: Trombidiformes) associated with plants in South Africa, Magdalena K.P. Meyer & P.A.J. Ryke, Acarologia I

Wikidata ☰ Q7543812 entry