| Brachypylina Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Peloribates sp. (Haplozetidae) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Oribatida |
| Suborder: | Brachypylina Hull, 1918 |
| Superfamilies | |
|
Pycnonoticae
Poronoticae
| |
Brachypylina is a group of oribatid mites, variously listed as a suborder,[1] infraorder,[2][3] or a cohort.[3][4]
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 (wing-like flaps possessed by some oribatids). The notogastral shield is separated from the prodorsal and ventral shields by a line of dehiscence (circumgastric furrow). There is usually a pair of trichobothria on the prodorsum. There are 3 (rarely seemingly 2) pairs of genital papillae. The subcapitulum is often diarthric, and sometimes has a mental tectum or is suctorial.[4]
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.[4]
These mites occur in various habitats including on vegetation. They feed on algae, fungi, detritus and small invertebrates.[4]
In one study of oribatids in German forests, Brachypylina made up the vast majority of oribatids collected (23,168 individuals out of 25,162). 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.[5]
