An overview is given of studies on diseases of mites. Knowledge of diseases of
mites is still fragmentary but in recent years more attention has been paid to acaropathogens,
often because of the economic importance of many mite species. Most research on mite
pathogens concerns studies on fungal pathogens of eriophyoids and spider mites especially.
These fungi often play an important role in the regulation of natural mite populations and are
sometimes able to decimate populations of phytophagous mites. Studies are being conducted
to develop some of these fungi as commercial acaricides.