MM119999

The Pontarachnidae is a family of water mites in the superfamily Hygrobatoidea. There are two genera in Australian waters: Litarachna (3 spp., Tas, SA, WA) and Pontarachna (1 sp., Qld (Tasmanian record in Harvey 1998 a typographical error)).

Pontarachnids can be recognised by the two pairs of posterior apodemes on coxa IV and the (typical) absence of genital acetabula. They are also the only group of water mites to inhabit marine waters. Litarachna amnicola is an exception, having been collected from a freshwater stream in Tasmania (Cook 1986) and possibly possessing very small acetabula.

References

Cook, D.R. 1986. Water mites from Australia. Mem. Amer. Ent. Inst. 40: 1-568.

Harvey, M.S. 1998a. Unusual new water mites (Acari: Hydracarina) from Australia, Part 1. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. 19: 91-106.

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