TAXONOMIC RANKING OF MAJOR TROMBICULID SUBTAXA WITH REMARKS ON THE EVOLUTION OF HOST-PARASITE RELATIONSHIPS (ACARIFORMES: PARASITENGONA: TROMBICULIDAE)

The modern classification of trombiculid mites from the family Trombiculidae (Acariformes: Parasitengona) is briefly reviewed on the subfamily and tribe level based on the larval characters. Some taxonomical and evolutionary aspects are briefly discussed. The family Trombiculidae is divided into four subfamilies: Leeuwenhoekiinae - Apoloniinae - Trombiculinae - Gahrliepiinae, from which Leeuwenhoekiinae should be placed at the base and Gahrliepiinae at the top of phylogenetic tree. Host-parasite relationships of trombiculid larvae are examined from the point of view that host-parasite specificity is low in trombiculids. Some physiological questions with respect to the realization of the life strategy of trombiculids are considered.