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This comprehensive review of host-parasite associations between larval Trombidioidea and its arthropod hosts includes 676 pair-wise (species-species) associations and is based mainly on published records, supplemented with new findings. For 27% of all nominal species assigned to the superfamily (excl. Trombiculidae and Walchiidae), and for 66% of species known from larvae at least one host record has been hitherto provided. Hosts remain unknown for Allotanaupodidae and Yurebillidae. Both generalist and specialist parasites have been recognized within Trombidioidea. However, for the vast majority of species, the fragmentary data on host-parasite associations do not allow differentiation between common and exceptional hosts, apart from general preferences towards the host group. Hitherto recorded arthropod hosts, exploited by trombidioid larvae, are listed. Ecological data relating to measures of host-parasite interactions are summarized. Names of mites and their hosts are verified and updated and the recent affiliation to higher taxa is followed.

Examination of host-associated variation in the chigger mite Hirsutiella zachvatkini (Schluger) revealed morphological differences among larvae infesting sympatric hosts: Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus. The analysis included 61 variables of larvae obtained from their gnathosoma, idiosoma and legs (measurements and counts). Statistically significant differences were observed for metric characters of the legs as opposed to the scutum. In view of the conspecificity of the mites, supported by comparison of COI gene products obtained from larvae and laboratory-reared deutonymphs, the observed variation is attributed to phenotypic plasticity. The knowledge of larval morphology, including intraspecific variation of metric characters, supported by molecular and host range data, places H. zachvatkini among the most comprehensively defined members of Trombiculidae.