Eupodoidea

Eupodoidea is a superfamily of mites in the order Trombidiformes. There are about 8 families and more than 160 described species in Eupodoidea.^[1][2]

Eupodoidea Temporal range: Palaeogene–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Linopodes
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Trombidiformes
Infraorder:	Eupodina
Superfamily:	Eupodoidea

Description

Eupodoids are soft-bodied mites that are red, red and black, white or yellow in colour. They can be recognised by the small epivertical lobe on the propodosoma and rhagidial organs on the tarsi of the first two leg pairs.^[3]

Ecology

Eupodoids occur in temperate grasslands, deserts (both hot and cold), alpine regions and polar regions (including tundra). Less commonly, they can be found in marshes and heavily wooded areas (including rainforests).^[3]

The superfamily includes fungivorous, phytophagous and predatory species.^[4] For example, Cocceupodidae and Eupodidae are fungivorous,^[5][6] Penthaleidae are phytophagous (and include some crop pests)^[7] and Rhagidiidae are fast-moving predators of small arthropods.^[8]

Rhagidiidae

Families

These eight families belong to the superfamily Eupodoidea:

• Cocceupodidae
• Eriorhynchidae
• Eupodidae
• Pentapalpidae
• Penthaleidae (earth mites)
• Penthalodidae
• Rhagidiidae
• Strandtmanniidae