[2] These mites live in a wide range of habitats and there are predatory, fungivorous and scavenging species.

[1] Of the three subfamilies, Pretydeinae has no setae on the genu of legs II, III or IV, and the palptarsus has a triple eupathidium at the end.

[1] Tydeids are among the most commonly encountered mites in arboreal habitats, including leaves, stems, tree trunks, canopy soils, sporocarps and nests.

[3] They are also found in caves, soil, humus, litter, grass, straw, hay and stored products.

[4] Some species of Tydeus are medically important: T. interruptus may be a reservoir for scrapie-like agents, while T. molestus causes itching and skin irritation in humans and domestic animals.