Balaustium cristatum

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Balaustium cristatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Subclass: Acari
Superorder: Acariformes
Order: Prostigmata
Suborder: Anystina
(unranked) Parasitengona
Superfamily: Erythraeoidea
Family: Erythraeidae
Genus: Balaustium
Species: B. cristatum
Binomial name
Balaustium cristatum
Meyer & Ryke, 1959

Balaustium cristatum is a species of mite belonging to the family Erythraeidae. This oval mite is only known from immature specimens: the eight-legged nymph is around 0.75 mm in length and moderately hairy with two pairs of eyes and all legs shorter than the body. The six-legged larva is only around 0.5 mm in length and sparsely hairy with one pair of eyes and the third pair of legs longer than the body.

It is associated with various plants in the vicinity of Malelane, South Africa.

[edit] References

  • Nine new species of the superfamily Erythraeoidea (Acarina: Trombidiformes) associated with plants in South Africa, Magdalena K.P. Meyer & P.A.J. Ryke, Acarologia I