title: Astigmatid mites (Acari: Sarcoptiformes) of forensic interest.
abstract: This paper reviews the occurrence of mites of the infraorder Astigmata in situations involving the legal system, particularly in the area of medicocriminal entomology. Species in the families Acaridae, Lardoglyphidae and Histiostomatidae are encountered in stored food products and in vertebrate carrion, including human remains. Some of these species are incidentals, whereas others are obligate necrophages. Phoretic associations between these mites and insects allows for rapid dispersal and colonization of such patchy resources.
authors.affiliation: Museum of Zoology & Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079, USA. bmoc@umich.edu
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Oconnor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D011180:Postmortem Changes