MM069999

The Zelandothyadidae is a family of water mites tentatively placed in the superfamily Hydryphantoidea (see Harvey 1998). It is represented in Australia by the genus Australiothyas (1 sp., Tas).

Australiothyas can be differentiated from other hydryphantoids by this combination of characters: complete ventral and dorsal shields; no eye-capsules; distally widened capitulum (the scleotised housing for chelicerae); and extremely stocky palps.

Australiothyas has been collected from the interstitial sediments of 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.