MM239999

The Arrenuridae is a family of water mites in the superfamily Arrenuroidea. Two genera of arrenurids occur in Australia: Arrenurus (35 spp., Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas, WA, NT) and Wuria (1 sp., NT ). Arrenurids in Australia can be distinguised by the following characters: completely sclerotised globular to cylindrical bodies; uncate palp; numerous (> 20) small acetabula on 'winglike' acetabular plates. Arrenurus species are often strongly sexually dimorphic, with males displaying modifications to their hindbodies (= cauda) involved in sperm transfer (Proctor 1992). In contrast,Wuria is relatively monomorphic.

Arrenurids are most often found in standing water, particularly richly vegetated lakes and ponds. However, some species occur in the interstitial zone of streams. One species, Arrenurus kitchingi, inhabits water-filled treeholes in Lamington National Park, Queensland (Smith & Harvey 1989).

References

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

Proctor, H.C. 1992. Mating and spermatophore morphology of water mites (Acari: Parasitengona). Zoo. J. Linn. Soc. 106: 341-384.

Smith, I.M. and M.S. Harvey. 1989. Description of adults of Arrenurus (Micruracarus) kitchingi sp. nov. (Acarina: Arrenuridae) from water-filled tree holes in Australia. Can. Entomol. 118: 407-472.