Pollicipalpinae

MM169999

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

The Pollicipalpinae is represented by the genus Pollicipalpus (1 sp., Qld). Pollicipalpus can be differentiated from other unionicolids by this combination of characters: one large dorsal plate and three small anterior platelets; five pairs of genital acetabula; palp tibia (penultimate segment) with distally directed spines.

Pollicipalpus was collected from a stream.

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.