Unionicolidae

water mites

Unionicolidae is a of water in the Trombidiformes, comprising approximately 5 and at least 40 described . Members are primarily freshwater aquatic distributed worldwide. Many species, particularly in the genus Unionicola, exhibit parasitic relationships with freshwater , feeding on mucus and tissue. The family represents a significant component of Arachnida diversity in aquatic .

Unionicolidae by (c) Robert Taylor, いくつかの権利を保有 (CC BY), Robert Taylor によって投稿されました. Used under a CC-BY license.

Unionicola by (c) Robert Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Robert Taylor. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Unionicolidae: /ˌjuːniəˌniːkəˈlaɪdiː/

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Images

Habitat

Freshwater aquatic including canals, ponds, and other waters. Specific observations include central and eastern Thailand provinces (Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Chonburi, and Rayong).

Distribution

Worldwide distribution. Documented from Denmark, Norway, Sweden (GBIF records), and Thailand (Bangkok, Nonthaburi provinces). The subgenus Polyatax has been reported in Asia and North America.

Diet

Mucus and tissue of molluscan for parasitic members; some members exhibit predatory .

Host Associations

Filopaludina sumatrensis polygramma - Gastropoda: Viviparidae; 17.10% in Thailand study
Filopaludina martensi martensi - Gastropoda: Viviparidae; 3.83% in Thailand study
Hyriopsis bialatus - freshwater mussel
Hyriopsis myersiana - freshwater mussel
Pilsbryoconcha exilis compressa - freshwater mussel
Uniandra contradens - freshwater mussel
Pseudodon vondembuschianus ellipticus - freshwater mussel
Physunio eximius - freshwater mussel
Trapezoideus exolescens exolescens - freshwater mussel
Ensidens ingallsianus - freshwater mussel
Pseudodon cambodjensis - freshwater mussel
Pilsbryoconcha exilis - freshwater mussel
freshwater sponge - associated

Behavior

Parasitic involving consumption of mucus and tissue. In Thailand studies, mean intensity of was 2.49 per infected host for F. sumatrensis polygramma and 2.18 for F. martensi martensi.

Ecological Role

Significant of Arachnida in aquatic ; of freshwater .

More Details

Genera composition

Five : Huitfeldtia (Thor, 1898), Koenikea (Wolcott, 1900), Najadicola (Piersig, 1897), Neumania (Lebert, 1879), and Unionicola (Haldeman, 1842).

New species description

Unionicola (Polyatax) kasetbangkhenensis sp. nov. was described from Thailand in 2024, representing the first report of Unionicola in Filopaludina spp.