Opilioacariformes

The Opilioacariformes are a group of arachnids, specifically within the subclass Acari, which also includes mites and ticks. These arachnids are characterized by their weakly sclerotized bodies, which superficially resemble those of the Opiliones (daddy longlegs). They are typically small, measuring between 1 to 2.5 mm in size. A distinguishing feature is their body, which is divided into a hairy anterior portion bearing two or three pairs of eyes and a nude posterior portion containing over 200 pores and four pairs of stigmata. Opilioacariformes are found in terrestrial environments, typically under stones and debris in semiarid regions, and have been recorded in various parts of the world, including North America, South America, Central Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean region. They are carnivorous and possibly omnivorous, and they are not considered to be of economic importance. Unlike many other acarids, parasitic forms are not known within the Opilioacariformes.12