MM319999

Malaconothrids are a family of mites from the Suborder Oribatida of the Order Acariformes. Most malaconothrids are terrestrial, but one genus, Trimalaconothrus, is cosmopolitan in fresh water. It occurs in both standing and running water where it likely feeds on detritus.

Care must be taken when identifying oribatids from aquatic samples as terrestrial oribatids often fall into the water where they may be mistaken for aquatic species. One clue that you may have a terrestrial oribatid is that no aquatic species is known to have pteromorphs, the wing-like flaps above the leg bases of many terrestrial species.

References:

Colloff, M.J. and R.B. Halliday. 1998. Oribatid Mites: a Catalogue of Australian Genera and Species. Monographs on Invertebrate Taxonomy 6. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.

Krantz, G.W. 1978. A Manual of Acarology. 2nd edition. Oregon State University Book Stores, Corvallis, Oregon.

Walter, D.E. and H.C. Proctor. 1999. Mites: Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour. University of New South Wales Press, Sydney, New South Wales.