Mesostigmata

The order Mesostigmata is a group of mites within the subclass Acari, which also includes ticks. These mites are characterized by having a number of sclerotized plates and typically lack eyes. They possess a pair of stigmata, which are respiratory pores, located between the coxae of the second, third, or fourth pair of legs. Mesostigmata are generally free-living in soil or decaying organic matter, but many are parasites of vertebrates and invertebrates. Some notable examples include the chicken mite, northern fowl mite, and rat mite, which can attack humans. This order also includes predatory mites that can be beneficial in controlling plant-feeding mites.12