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Concept
Oribatida
Summary
Oribatida (formerly Cryptostigmata), also known as oribatid mites, moss mites or beetle mites, are an order of mites, in the "chewing Acariformes" clade Sarcoptiformes. They range in size from . There are currently 12,000 species that have been identified, but researchers estimate that there may be anywhere from 60,000 to 120,000 total species. Oribatid mites are by far the most prevalent of all arthropods in forest soils, and are essential for breaking down organic detritus and distributing fungi.
Oribatid mites generally have low metabolic rates, slow development and low fecundity. Species are iteroparous with adults living a relatively long time; for example, estimates of development time from egg to adult vary from several months to two years in temperate forest soils. Oribatid mites have six active instars: prelarva, larva, three nymphal instars and the adult. All these stages after the prelarva feed on a wide variety of material including living and dead plant and fungal material, lichens and carrion; some are predatory, but none is parasitic and feeding habits may differ between immatures and adults of the same species.
Many species have a mineralized exoskeleton as adults. In some, this includes a pair of pteromorphae: wing-like flaps that overhang the legs on either side. Some oribatids can also tuck in their legs underneath their protective armor, an ability known as ptychoidy, for more defence against predation.
Alkaloids are produced by some oribatids, presumably as another defence against predation. In turn, poison dart frogs that prey on oribatids sequester these alkaloids for their own defence.
The Oribatida are of economic importance as hosts of various tapeworm species, and by increasing the breakdown of organic material in the soil, in a similar manner to earthworms.
Many species of oribatid mites require extremely specific habitats, resulting in large diversity within the order due to the many niches they evolve to.
Official source
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