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 | |
| |
| 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". Others are free-ranging predators which can be found in soil, forest litter, animal nests, and house dust, under tree bark, and on foliage. Cheyletids may occur in corpses, where they feed on other mites and on nematodes.