Brachypylina
Brachypylina is a group of oribatid mites, variously listed as a suborder, infraorder, or a cohort.
Description
Brachypylina are 0.15 to 2.0 mm or more in length, beetle-like, usually tan to dark brown, and covered in armour. Some have pteromorphs. The notogastral shield is separated from the prodorsal and ventral shields by a line of dehiscence. There is usually a pair of trichobothria on the prodorsum. There are 3 pairs of genital papillae. The subcapitulum is often diarthric, and sometimes has a mental tectum or is suctorial.Females have a well-developed ovipositor. Males are usually half the mass of females with a smaller genital opening, and they have a spermatophoric organ instead of an ovipositor.
Ecology
These mites occur in various habitats including on vegetation. They feed on algae, fungi, detritus and small invertebrates.In one study of oribatids in German forests, Brachypylina made up the vast majority of oribatids collected. The highest densities were found in lichen and mosses, and they made up all of the oribatids found on tree bark. Densities were lower in sod, dead wood and litter.
Families
- Pycnonoticae Grandjean, 1954
- Poronoticae Grandjean, 1954