Abstract Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is a modern powerful technique that can be used for studying the external and internal anatomy of arthropods. CLSM has seldom been used in acarology and very rarely for studying eriophyoid mites. It allows the capture of precise digital images of the fine details of external and internal chitinous structures, which can be further analysed using various computer programs. CLSM can serve as an effective tool for comparing closely related and/or cryptic species, correcting diagnoses of poorly described taxa, studying immature instars, and particularly, for studying the structures and the functioning of the internal genitalia of adult females and males. In this paper, the potential use of CLSM for the study of eriophyoids is demonstrated using specimens of 13 mite species and eight genera from the families Phytoptidae Murray 1877 and Eriophyidae Nalepa 1898. This study showed that freshly mounted specimens on microscope slides appeared to be the most appropriate