Identification:

Mite harvestmen are not likely to be confused with other NA harvestmen, but because of their small size and appearance, can be mistaken for some mites.  Look for the distinctive ozophores (anterolateral knob-like structures on cephalothorax, with openings to defensive glands).  An SEM image of ozophores can be found here.

Natural History:

Mite harvestmen are rarely encountered & collected unless specifically targeted.  A productive means of collection is to sift leaf litter, using either a mesh sifter or litter concentrator.  Forested upland habitats are promising places to search.

Diversity & Distribution:

Metasiro (F. Neogoveidae) – 3 species (FL, GA, SC)

Siro (F. Sironidae) – many species, Appalachia & the Pacific Northwest (including CA)

Key Resources:

Checklist of the Cyphophthalmi species of the World

Shear WA. 1980. A review of the Cyphophthalmi of the United States and Mexico, with a proposed reclassification of the suborder (Arachnida, Opiliones). American Museum Novitates, 2705, 1–34.

Giribet G & WA Shear. 2010. The Genus Siro Latreille, 1796 (Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi, Sironidae), in North America with a phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data and the description of four new species. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology,  160(1), 1-33.

Clouse RM & WC Wheeler. 2014. Descriptions of two new, cryptic species of Metasiro (Arachnida: Opiliones: Cyphophthalmi: Neogoveidae) from South Carolina, USA, including a discussion of mitochondrial mutation rates. Zootaxa, 3814(2), 177­–201.