Origin and Evolution of Gall Mites (Eriophyoidea) in the Light of their Internal Anatomy

Abstract

While studying the problems of phylogeny and evolution of organisms, data on their comparative morphology and anatomy are usually applied. Such an approach to the studies on evolution of gall mites, however, is hampered on one hand by specific characteristics of their body structure (which distinguish this homogeneous group of tiny terrestrial arthropods from the general complex of mites) and on the other, by the absence of data on the internal anatomy of gall mites. Due to both facts not a single extant group of mites can be regarded to be closely related to the gall mites. The exceptional position of gall mites within Acari and even arthropods becomes especially evident after their anatomy, histology and cytology have been studied by electron microscopy.