Neoacaridae

Unidentified species of Neoacarus, from Biodiversity Institute of Ontario Photography Group.

Belongs within: Acaromorpha.

The Neoacaridae are a family of heavily sclerotised freshwater mites found in North America and Eurasia. The larvae, where known, are parasites of chironomid flies (Walter et al. 2009).

Characters (from Walter et al. 2009): Dorsal and ventral shields present; ventral shield with suture lines between coxal plates III-IV extending posteromedially to genital field regions and well separated from each other medially; no glandularia on coxal plates IV; genital acetabula in single rows on each side, 3-5 pairs lying in gonopore in male, 5-9 pairs flanking gonopore in females; palpi uncate.

<==Neoacaridae
    |--Volsellacarus Cook 1963 S86
    |    |--V. ovalis Cook 1963 S86
    |    `--V. sabulonus Cook 1968 S86
    `--Neoacarus Halbert 1944 S86
         |--N. expansus Cook 1963 S86
         |--N. hibernicus Halbert 1944 S86
         |--N. minimus Cook 1968 S86
         |--N. motasi Cook 1963 S86
         |--N. occidentalis Cook 1968 S86
         |--N. ozarkensis Cook 1963 S86
         `--N. similis Cook 1963 S86

*Type species of generic name indicated

REFERENCES

[S86] Schwoerbel, J. 1986. Acari: “Hydrachnellae”. In Stygofauna Mundi: A Faunistic, Distributional, and Ecological Synthesis of the World Fauna inhabiting Subterranean Waters (including the Marine Interstitial) (L. Botosaneanu, ed.) pp. 652-696. E. J. Brill / Dr. W. Backhuys: Leiden.

Walter, D. E., E. E. Lindquist, I. M. Smith, D. R. Cook & G. W. Krantz. 2009. Order Trombidiformes. In: Krantz, G. W., & D. E. Walter (eds) A Manual of Acarology 3rd ed. pp. 233-420. Texas Tech University Press.