Erythraeidae is a family of mites belonging to the Trombidiformes. Larval forms of these mites are parasitic on various other arthropods, for example harvestmen, but the adults are free-living predators. These oval mites are rather large, usually reddish-coloured and densely hairy. The legs, especially the first and fourth pairs, are long and adapted for running. They have either one or two pairs of eyes and can be distinguished from related families microscopically by the presence of a single claw on the tibia of the palp.
The larvae bite a hole into the cuticula of the host and use a stylostome, which acts like a drinking straw, to drink body fluids dissolved tissues.
The larvae of two described species of Leptus feed on bees: Leptus ariel lives on the European honey bee in Guatemala, and Leptus monteithi is a parasite of a Leioproctus species (Colletidae) in Tasmania.
Genera: These 62 genera belong to the family Erythraeidae:
Subfamily Abrolophinae Witte, 1995
: Abrolophus Berlese, 1891
: Grandjeanella Southcott, 1961
: Marantelophus Haitlinger, 2011
: Nagoricanella Haitlinger, 2009
: Pukakia Clark, 2014
Subfamily Balaustiinae Grandjean, 1947
: Balaustium von Heyden, 1826
: Bursaustium Haitlinger, 2000
: Fozustium Haitlinger, 2005
: Italustium Haitlinger, 2000
: Lomeustium Haitlinger, 2007
: Madinahustium Kamran & Alatawi, 2016
: Micromaris Hirst, 1926
: Microsmarialla Khot, 1963
: Moldoustium Haitlinger, 2008
: Monteustium Haitlinger & Sundic, 2015
: Mypongia Southcott, 1961
: Neobalaustium Willmann, 1951
: Pollux Southcott, 1961
: Wartookia Southcott, 1961
Subfamily Callidosomatinae Southcott, 1957
: Abrolophus Berlese, 1891
: Andrevella Southcott, 1961
: Caeculisoma Berlese, 1888
: Callidosoma Womersley, 1936
: Carastrum Southcott, 1988
: Cecidopus Karsch, 1879
: Charletonia Oudemans, 1910
: Dambullaeus Haitlinger, 2001
: Harpagella Southcott, 1996
: Hauptmannia A.C. Oudemans, 1910
: Iguatonia Haitlinger, 2004
: Momorangia Southcott, 1972
: Nagoricanella Haitlinger, 2009
: Neoabrolophus Khot, 1965
: Neomomorangia Fain & Santiago-Blay, 1993
: Pukakia Clark, 2014
: Pussardia Southcott, 1961
Subfamily Erythraeinae Robineau-Desvoidy, 1828
: Augustsonella Southcott, 1961
: Claverythraeus Trägårdh, 1937
: Collemboerythraeus Noei et al., 2017
: Curteria Southcott, 1961
: Eatoniana Cambridge, 1898
: Erythraeus Latreille, 1806
: Erythraxus Southcott, 1961
: Erythrellus Southcott, 1946
: Erythrites Southcott, 1961
: Erythroides Southcott, 1946
: Forania Southcott, 1961
: Helladerythraeus Beron, 1988
: Kakamasia Lawrence, 1944
: Kamertonia Gabrys, 2000
: Lasioerythraeus Welbourn & Young, 1987
: Makolia Saboori et al., 2009
: Neophanolophus Shiba, 1976
: Neosmaris Hirst, 1926
: Paraphanolophus Smiley, 1968
: Pararainbowia Dunlop, 2007
: Podosmaridia Trägårdh, 1937
: Proterythraeus Vercammen-Grandjean, 1973
: Rainbowia Southcott, 1961
: Ramsayella Z.-Q. Zhang, 2000
: Taranakia Southcott, 1988
: Tepoztlana Hoffmann & Mendez, 1973
Subfamily Leptinae Billberg, 1820
: Leptus Latreille, 1796
Subfamily Myrmicotrombiinae Southcott, 1957
: Myrmicotrombium Womersley, 1934
Subfamily Phanolophinae Southcott, 1946
: Iraniella Karimi Iravanlou et al., 2002
: Phanolophus André, 1927