Water Spiders and Mites – Chelicerata

Abstract

Freshwater mites (Hydrachnidae) (Fig. 117/1) are chelicerates, often of vivid red, yellow or green colour and with an unsegmented body up to 8 mm. Species inhabiting stagnant or slow-streaming waters are round or oval, while those living in fast-flowing waters are more or less flattened. Due to the mucus of unpleasant flavour, secreted by the glands of the body wall, water mites are not consumed by the fish. Their body is hardened by chitinous plates that develop into tough dorsal and ventral armours in some species. Most water mites have four eyes, each two situated in a common eye socket on either side of the front part of the body.