Albiinae

MM199999

The Aturidae is a family of water mites in the superfamily Hygrobatoidea. The 10 genera of aturids in Australia are divided into three subfamilies.

The Albiinae contains a single genus, Albia (5 spp., Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas, WA, NT). Albia differs from other aturid genera in having this combination of characters: a dorsal shield composed of a single large plate; numerous (> 10 pairs) genital acetabula restricted to circular regions flanking the genital opening; palps without ventral or dorsal projections.

Albia species occur in both standing and running water.

References

Cook, D.R. 1986. Water mites from Australia. Mem. Amer. Ent. Inst. 40: 1-568.

Harvey, M.S. 1998. The Australian Water Mites: a Guide to Families and Genera. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Vic.