MM079999

The Hydrodromidae is a family of water mites in the superfamily Hydryphantoidea. The Australian representative is the genus Hydrodroma (2 spp., NSW, Vic, Tas, SA, and other records from Qld and the NT (HCP)).

Hydrodroma species are red, soft-bodied mites that often occur in large numbers. Because of their chelate palps and general body shape they may be mistaken for members of the family Hydryphantidae; however, Hydrodroma species have very elongate palp tips that make their palps look like scissors, while hydryphantids have more truncate palp tips.

Hydrodroma species occur in lakes, ponds, and slow-flowing 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.