The order Pyxidiophorales is a small group of fungi within the phylum Ascomycota, primarily known for their association with arthropods, especially insects and mites. Members of this order are mostly saprobic or mycophagous, living on decaying organic matter or feeding on other fungi, and they often use insects as vectors for spore dispersal. They produce minute, often dark, cup- or disc-shaped fruiting bodies and have specialized adaptations for surviving in insect-inhabited environments. Pyxidiophorales are ecologically important for nutrient cycling in soil and litter ecosystems, though they are relatively obscure and not commonly encountered outside specialized ecological studies.