The hidden world of Acariformes: mites that shape ecosystems and fuel poison frogs

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Mites are far more than household pests. The superorder Acariformes contains hundreds of thousands of species, ranging from ancient soil-dwellers to plant-destroying parasites. Some even provide the chemical fuel for the lethal toxins found in poison-dart frogs, proving these tiny arachnids hold surprising influence over the natural world.

Acariformes, also known as Actinotrichida, represent the most diverse superorder of mites. While researchers have described over 32,000 species across 351 families, estimates suggest the true number of species—including those yet to be discovered—could range between 440,000 and 929,000. These arachnids are divided into two primary clades: Sarcoptiformes and Trombidiformes. Historically, scientists categorized them using suborders, but modern classification has largely abandoned these rigid structures in favor of more precise phylogenetic groupings, as the relationships between lineages like the Prostigmata remain complex and often debated.

The evolutionary history of these mites is remarkably deep. The oldest known fossils, discovered in the Rhynie Chert of Scotland, date back approximately 410 million years to the early Devonian period. Despite the common biological assumption that asexual lineages are evolutionary dead ends, Acariformes defy this trend. Within the order Oribatida, four distinct clusters have reproduced parthenogenetically for 300 to 400 million years, maintaining long-term success without traditional sexual reproduction. In some cases, these lineages have even re-emerged as sexual species through automixis.

The ecological impact of Acariformes is vast. Sarcoptiformes are typically detritivores or fungivores, though some groups like the Psoroptidia have evolved to live on vertebrates. Trombidiformes, meanwhile, include significant agricultural pests such as spider mites, which can cause severe defoliation and have developed increasing resistance to pesticides. Beyond their roles as pests or predators, these mites are essential to the food web; for instance, the strawberry poison-dart frog relies on consuming specific oribatid mites to sequester the alkaloids required to produce its signature poison. Without these tiny arthropods, the frogs remain non-toxic, highlighting the intricate, often invisible, dependencies that sustain complex ecosystems.

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