Scientific name: Hydrachna species
Phylum:  Arthropoda
Subphylum:  Chelicerata
Class:  Arachnida
Order: Acarina
Family:  Hydrachenellae
Commonly known as: Water mite
Commonly found in:  slow moving streams
Mobility:   Motile
Reproduction:  Sexual reproduction

Water mite is a zooplankton, size ranges from 2-7mm, often bright in color to attract or warn predators or for mating purposes. Adult water mites (nymph stage) are free swimmers, whereas young ones (larval stage) act as parasite which crawl on aquatic vegetation or act on Water Boatman which provides food to mite and helps to migrate from one pool to other. They have four pair of legs that contains small hairs which help in propelling through water. They are carnivorous in nature, thus feed on other insect larvae, snails, small crustaceans with the help of retractable piercing mouthparts by secreting digestive enzymes and then sucking out dissolved tissues. They don’t have antennae but have a pair of finger-like pedipalp to catch a prey. They have ability to survive in low dissolved oxygen levels that is in polluted aquatic system.