Pionatacinae

MM169999

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

The subfamily Pionatacinae is represented by three genera: Koenikea (17 spp., Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas and other records from the NT (HCP)); Neumania (8 spp., Qld, NSW, NT); and Recifella (14 spp., Qld, NSW, Tas and other records from the NT (HCP)).

Pionatacines can be distinguished from other unionicolids by this combination of characters: tarsus of leg IV with 'normal' sized claws; more than 6 pairs of genital acetabula; palp tibia (penultimate) without obvious distally directed spines. Species of Koenikea and Recifella have complete dorsal and ventral shields, whereas Australian speices of Neumania lack dorsal shields.

Pionatacines occur in both lentic and surficial lotic habitats.

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.