Astigmata is a diverse lineage of mites with significant ecological, medical, and economic importance, yet higher-level relationships within the group remain contentious due to incongruent morphological and molecular data. Here, we integrate multigene data with comparative morphology and ecological traits to reassess phylogenetic relationships, with a focus on the newly described family Lycoglyphidae fam. nov. associated with puffball fungi. Phylogenetic analyses recover Lycoglyphidae within a well-supported cluster—the AR cluster—comprising Acaridae sensu novo, Rhizoglyphidae sensu novo, and several additional related lineages. Within this framework, previously unrecognized lineages such as Pontoppidaniidae (intertidal seaweed habitats) and Cerophagidae (bee-associated) are supported as monophyletic, showing ecological conservatism. Our phylogeny indicates that mating position is phylogenetically structured, with retroconjugate mating prevalent in the AR cluster (except Histiostomatoidea) and many other lineages, while proconjugate mating is present only in two lineages, Hemisarcoptoidea+Glycyphagidae and Rosensteiniidae+Aeroglyphidae. Finally, to facilitate identification and future research, we provide a taxonomic description of new taxa (Lycoglyphidae with Lycoglyphus gen. nov., Obelacarus gen. nov., and Viedebanttia) and a comprehensive key to the families and genera of Acaroidea based on both adults and deutonymphs. Our results clarify some higher-level relationships within Astigmata, indicate the importance of integrating molecular, morphological, and ecological evidence, and provide a practical resource for identification and comparative studies.
Klimov et al. (Fri,) studied this question.