Background: Mites of the genus Ophioptes, parasitize a wide range of snakes' species worldwide. Pit mites develop in capsules inside the connective tissue or scales of their hosts and all stages have a genital-anal opening with no connection to the midgut. To this date, there are 15 known species, of which five occur in the Neotropical region. In South America four species have been described from Colubrid snakes.