Stefan F. WirthJan 2

#Mouthparts in #mites of the #Acariformes are usually normal shaped as typical for #arachnids. The #chelicerae are the feeding organs consisting of digitus fixus and d. mobilis. #Pedipalps have sensing functions with different kinds of #sensoryorgans. In #Histiostomatidae (#Astigmata) the whole #gnathosoma is modified into a complex #filterfeeding organ that creates an #underpressure on #food surfaces.
© #StefanFWirth Berlin 2026

Reference
S. F. Wirth (2023)
https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/GSP/GSOIL4N/GSOIL4N-Posters/ID_167.pdf

Stefan F. WirthFeb 13, 2025
Overview of the topic of #muscleattachment and origin points and #muscle #morphology in #Astigmata #mites (#Acariformes). Figs. 1-3 show a view from the #proterosoma towards the #gnathosoma of a mite of the #Acaridae. Fig. 4 shows a female of a #Histiostomatidae mite in the area of #​​legs 1 and 2 with the associated muscles and muscle attachment points. The already older preparations were critically - point dried before #SEM observations. #acarology #biology
© #StefanFWirth Berlin 2025
Stefan F. WirthNov 2, 2024

The #complex #mouthparts of #Acariformes #mites. As an example, here is the #SEM image of a non determined #mite from the #Acaridae (#Astigmata) #cut in the area of ​​the #proterosoma, #perspective towards #gnathosoma from #internally. Visible are the complex #muscles that #move the gnathosoma and partly (left) also the first pair of legs. #Photo from my early postdoc times, re-edited in 2024.
#evolution #Astigmatina

© #StefanFWirth Berlin 2024