Cheyletidae

Cheyletidae; Temporal range:
	Cheyletiella sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Trombidiformes
Superfamily:	Cheyletoidea
Family:	Cheyletidae; Leach, 1815
Genera
	Cheyletiella; Cheyletus; Cheletophyes; Eucheyletia; Hypopicheyla; Lanceacheyla; Nodele; Paracheyletia;
Diversity
	c. 80 genera, > 500 species

Cheyletidae is a family of mites in the order Trombidiformes. Some Cheyletiella spp. are parasites of mammals, causing cheyletiellosis or "walking dandruff".^[2] Others are free-ranging predators which can be found in soil, forest litter, animal nests, and house dust, under tree bark, and on foliage.^[3] Cheyletids may occur in corpses, where they feed on other mites and on nematodes.^[4]

Description

Cheyletidae have short stylet-like chelicerae and large pincer-like palps. The palp tarsus is short and usually bears comb-like and sickle-like setae, and is located on the posterior part of the palp tibia. The palp tibia has a strong claw which extends beyond the palp tarsus. The body may have zero, one or multiple dorsal plates.^[5]

Gallery

Cheletophyes torridae
Nodele conquistador on bee Aztecanthidium tenochtitlanicum

References

^ Xia, B., Klompen, H., & Childers, C.C. (2011). "A new genus and species of Cheyletidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) from citrus trees in Florida." Zootaxa 2796: 29-36.
^ "Cheyletiellosis in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals". Vca. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
^ "Family Cheyletidae Leach, 1815". insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
^ Goff, M. Lee (2009), "Forensic Entomology", Encyclopedia of Insects, Elsevier, pp. 381–386, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374144-8.00112-0, ISBN 978-0-12-374144-8, retrieved 2025-12-17{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
^ Baker, Edward W.; Baker, Edward W. (1949). "A review of the mites of the family Cheyletidae in the United States National Museum". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 99: 267––320. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.99-3238.267.

External links

Media related to Cheyletidae at Wikimedia Commons
Joel Hallan's Biology Catalog: Cheyletidae

[1] Xia, B., Klompen, H., & Childers, C.C. (2011). "A new genus and species of Cheyletidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) from citrus trees in Florida." Zootaxa 2796: 29-36.

[2] "Cheyletiellosis in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals". Vca. Retrieved 2025-12-17.

[3] "Family Cheyletidae Leach, 1815". insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu. Retrieved 2025-12-17.

[4] Goff, M. Lee (2009), "Forensic Entomology", Encyclopedia of Insects, Elsevier, pp. 381–386, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374144-8.00112-0, ISBN 978-0-12-374144-8, retrieved 2025-12-17{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)

[5] Baker, Edward W.; Baker, Edward W. (1949). "A review of the mites of the family Cheyletidae in the United States National Museum". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 99: 267––320. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.99-3238.267.

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