bdellidæ

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. A family of tracheate mites, of the order Acarida, class Arachnida, having the head distinct from the thorax and elongated into a proboscis, chelate cheliceres, long thin raptorial pedipalps, cursorial legs of six or more joints, stigmate near the rostrum, and skeleton composed of sclerites embedded in soft skin. The animals are found creeping in damp places. Besides Bdella, the family contains the genus Scirus.