Encentridophorinae

MM169999

The Unionicolidae is a family of water mites in the superfamily Hygrobatoidea. In Australia there are six genera in four subfamilies.

The subfamily Encentridophorinae is represented by the genus Encentridophorus (1 sp., Qld, Vic, NT). It can be differentiated from other unionicolids by this combination of characters: no movable spines on legs I; tarsal claws of legs IV much smaller than those of other legs; male with modified legs III (apical leg segments more robust and with long setae; enlarged tarsal claws) and legs IV (tarsi flattened apically pointed).

Encentridophorus occurs in ponds, lakes, and slow-flowing weedy streams.

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.