Parasitic young Water mites on aquatic vegetation 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.
Interaction of parasitic water mites on aquatic vegetation
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