Hydrachnidia

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Common Name

Water Mite

Scientific Name

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Trombidiformes

Family

Hydrachnidia

Lab Storage

Feeding

Mostly piercer-predators, but some species are external parasites, collector-gatherers, or piercer-herbivores. Hydrachnidia are strong swimmer that hunt down active prey.

Water Quality Tolerance

Overall, facultative. Species range from somewhat sensitive to somewhat tolerant.

Fact

2-3mm, range <1-7mm. The body is composed almost entire of the abdomen. They are frequently brightly coloured when alive, occuring in bright red, green, and orange, but some species are dull brown or black. They have four pairs of segmented legs that project from their sides. For more photos, refer to our online gallery: tinyurl.com/vbq8lun

Habitat

Found most commonly in lentic-littoral habitats among aquatic plants in shallow waters, such as ponds, lakes, swamps, marshes and bogs. Some in running water, deeper water or temporary habitats like the mud, when the water dries up.

References

Voshell & Wright. 2002.