Mites are one of the most species-rich groups of arthropods that inhabit pitchers.
The phytoseiids are represented by one species of fast-running predator, Macroseius biscutatus . The histiostomatids are a far larger group, with at least ten species of the genus Sarraceniopus living in pitcher plants. Sarraceniopus mites crawl slowly through prey remains in bases of pitchers, apparently filter-feeding on bacteria. Both Macroseius and Sarraceniopus are obligate symbionts of Sarraceniaceae, requiring pitchers to complete their life cycles. Our studies focus on the systematics of Sarraceniopus , since this genus is far less studied than Macroseius .