The family Kitaviridae was established in 2019 and belongs to the order Martellivirales within the class Alsuviricetes. Members of this family are assigned to three genera: Cilevirus, Higrevirus, and Blunervirus. They possess split genomes comprising single-stranded positive RNA molecules. The genomic organization and composition of kitavirids are unique within each genus; however, variations can still be observed across species within a genus. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on RNA-dependent RNA polymerases indicate that kitavirids share a common ancestor with various taxonomically unclassified arthropod-infecting viruses, such as negeviruses, and other commonly referred to as kita/nege-like viruses. Mites of the genus Brevipalpus transmit cileviruses and higreviruses, while at least two blunerviruses are vectored by eriophyid mites. The most distinctive feature of kitavirid biology is their marked inefficiency—or even inability—in achieving systemic movement within infected plants.