are also some that live in freshwater. Other Mesostigmata are parasites of vertebrates or arthropods, pollen and nectar feeders in flowers, fungus feeders, or saprophages that subsist on dead or decaying organic matter.

The soil-dwelling Mesostigmata are not as abundant as oribatids or prostigmatids that also occur in this habitat, but they are still ubiquitous in soil and may be important predators. Larger species tend to be predators