The Water Mites (Acari: Hydrachnellae) of South Africa

Compiled by A.D. Harrison

111A Berg Road, Fish Hoek, 7965 South Africa

© Copyright of this page belongs to the author.
Yours is the access since 1st January 2000

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Most of these swimming water mites have larvae and nymphs ectoparisitic on the flying stages of aquatic insects. Unionicola parasitizes unionid freshwater mussels. The majority of species listed below are also found widely in the Afrotropical Region and many on Madagascar. Some also occur in the Palaearctic. Subgeneric names have been omitted.

Order: HYDRACHNELLAE

Family: HYDRACHNIDAE

Subfamily: HYDRACHNINAE

  1. Genus: HYDRACHNA
    Standing water: lakes, ponds and backwaters
    1. H. dartevellei Walter
      Western Cape (Betty's Bay) and Mpumalanga (Vaal River, Sandspruit, Kleinvaal, Lake Chrissie)

    2. H. kenyensis Lunblad
      Mpumalanga (Waterval River, Lake Chrissie), Northern Province (Magalakwena River) and KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu Reserve)

    3. H. spinosa Koenike
      Mpumalanga (Lake Chrissie) and Northern Province (Magalakwena River)

    4. H. mirifica (Koenike)
      Mpumalanga (Sandspruit; Vaal River; Waterval River, Lake Chrissie)



Family: LIMNOCHARIDAE

Subfamily: LIMNOCHARINAE

  1. Genus: LIMNOCHARES
    Running water
    1. L. crinita Koenike
      Eastern Cape (Grahamstown), Western Cape (Great Berg River; Palmiet River)



Family: EYLAIDIDAE

Subfamily: EYLAINAE

  1. Genus: EYLAIS
    Standing water: lakes ponds and backwaters
    1. E. crassipalpis Thor
      Western Cape (Retreat; brackish water near Zeekoevlei)

    2. E. crenocula Keonike
      Western Cape (Cape Town) and Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Kleinvaal River; Waterval River)

    3. E. degenerata Koenike
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Sandspruit; Kleinvaal River)

    4. E. degenerata transvaalensis Viets
      Mpumalanga (George Camp, Olifants River)

    5. E. lightfooti Thor
      Western Cape (Retreat Vlei; Zeekoevlei)

    6. E. purcelli Thor
      Western Cape (Retreat Vlei [now no more! There is water there in winter])

    7. E. voeltzkowi Koenike
      Western Cape (Retreat Vlei)



Family: HYDRYPHANTIDAE

Subfamily: THYASINAE

  1. Genus: HETEROTHYAS
    Torrential water
    1. H. africana Lundblad
      Eastern Cape (Grahamstown)


  2. Genus: OCTOTHYAS
    1. O. hewittae Lunblad
      Eastern Cape (Grahamstown)


  3. Genus: PLACOTHYAS
    Standing water
    1. P. octopora (Viets)
      Eastern Cape (between Fish Hoek and Chapman's Bay; Langevlei)



Subfamily: TERATOTHYASINAE

  1. Genus: TERATOTHYASIDES
    1. T. reticulatus Schoonbee
      Northwestern Province (Potchefstroom, Gerhardminnebron)

    2. T. sempiterna (Viets)
      Northwestern Province (Potchefstroom, Gerhardminnebron)



Family: HYDRODROMIDAE

Subfamily: DIPLODONTINAE

  1. Genus: DIPLODONTUS
    1. D. schaubi (Koenike)
      Mpumalanga (Kleinvaal River)



Subfamily: HYDRODROMINAE

  1. Genus: HYDRODROMA
    1. H. capensis (Viets)
      Western Cape (Cape Town; Eerste River Estuary near Firgrove) and Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Lake Chrissie)

    2. H. despiciens (Müller)
      Western Cape (Retreat Vlei)



Family: SPERCHONIDAE

Subfamily: SPERCHONINAE

  1. Genus: SPERCHON
    Running water, stones in current
    1. S. aberrans aberrans Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    2. S. aberans polliciger K.O.Viets
      Eastern Cape (Kruis River)

    3. S. biscutatus Lundblad
      Mpumalanga (Sabie River; Crocodile River; Nels River)

    4. S. circumcinctus Lunblad
      Eastern Cape (Grobbelaar's River) and Mpumalanga (Blyde River)

    5. S. directus Viets
      Mpumalanga (Great Usutu River)

    6. S. fenestratus Lundblad
      Mpumalanga (Sabie River; Nels River)

    7. S. gracilis Lundblad
      Mpumalanga (Kleinvaal River)

    8. S. postocularius Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    9. [ S. robustus K.O.Viets
      Zimbabwe ]



Family: ANISITSIELLIDAE

Subfamily: MAMERSOPSINAE

  1. Genus: PLATYMAMERSOPSIS
    1. [ P. cooki K.O.Viets
      Zimbabwe ]



Subfamily: NILOTONIINAE

  1. Genus: NILOTONIA
    Torrential
    1. N. catarrhacta (Lundblad)
      Eastern Cape (Grahamstown)



Family: LEBERTIIDAE

Subfamily: LERBERTINAE

  1. Genus: LEBERTIA
    Running water, stones in current
    1. L. capensis Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River) and KwaZulu-Natal (Klip River)

    2. Lebertia sp. K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Crocodile River)



Subfamily: OXINAE

  1. Genus: FRONTIPODA
    Stones in current
    1. F. calcipeltata Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    2. [ F. oxoidea Viets
      Zimbabwe ]


  2. Genus: OXUS
    Running water
    1. O. stuhlmanni (Koenike)
      KwaZulu-Natal (Wilge River)



Family: TORRENTICOLIDAE

Subfamily: TORRENTICOLINAE

  1. Genus: TORRENTICOLA
    Stones in current
    1. [ T. binga K.O.Viets
      Zimbabwe ]

    2. T. capensis Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River) and Mpumalanga (Crocodile River)

    3. T. eurystoma Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River), Eastern Cape (Grahamstown) and Mpumalanga (Kleinvaal River)

    4. T. harrisoni Viets
      Mpumalanga (Great Usutu River), to Zimbabwe

    5. [ T. media K.O.Viets
      Zimbawe ]

    6. [ T. microstoma Koenike
      Zimbabwe ]

    7. T. mitchelli K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Crocodile River; Komati River)

    8. [ T. ovata K.O.Viets
      Zimbawe ]

    9. T. procera K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Crocodile River)

    10. [ T. rhodesiensis K.O.Viets
      Zimbabwe ]

    11. T. rubicunda Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    12. T. ventriosa ventriosa (Viets)
      Eastern Cape (Slaaikraal Reservoir near Grahamstown), Mpumalanga (Mlumati River; Sabie River; Crocodile River) and KwaZulu-Natal (Usutu River, Pongola River)

    13. T. ventriosa stenostomoides (Lundblad)
      Mpumalanga (Crocodile River)

    14. T. vietsi (Lundblad)
      Mpumalanga (Crocodile River)



Family: LIMNESIIDAE

Subfamily: LIMNESIINAE

  1. Genus: LIMNESIA
    Running and standing water
    1. L. africana Thor
      Western Cape (Retreat Vlei; Zeekoevlei), KwaZulu-Natal (Wilge River), Gauteng (Pretoria) and Mpumalanga (Lake Chrissie; Goedverwachting Pan; Waterval River)

    2. L. campanulata Koenike
      Eastern Cape (Grahamstown) and Mpumalanga (Mlumati River)

    3. L. graciliseta Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River; Kaaimans River)

    4. L. lucifera Koenike
      Western Cape (Cape Town), Eastern Cape (Grahamstown), KwaZulu-Natal (Wilge River; Zululand, Ndumu Reserve), Gauteng (Pretoria) and Mpumalanga (Vaal River), to Zimbabwe

    5. L. manubriata Walter
      Eastern Cape (Grahamstown)

    6. L. monodi monodi Walter
      Western Cape (Cape Town), KwaZulu-Natal (Wilge River; Ndumu Reserve) and Mpumalanga (Vaal River)

    7. L. mucronata K.O.Viets
      Western Cape (Kaaimans River)

    8. L. resupinata Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    9. L. walteri Migot
      KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu) and Mpumalanga (White River)



Family: PONTARCHNIDAE

Subfamily: PONTARCHNINAE

  1. Genus: PONTARACHNA
    Marine
    1. P. capensis Lohmann
      Western Cape (Simonstown Harbour) and Red Sea

    2. P. punctulum Philippi
      Western Cape (Keurbooms River estuary) and Red Sea



Family: HYGROBATIDAE

Subfamily: HYGROBATINAE

  1. Genus: HYGROBATES
    Running and standing water
    1. H. acutidens Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    2. H. chutteri K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Kleinvaal River; Kafferspruit; Crocodile River)

    3. H. elgonensis capensis Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River) and Mpumalanga (Kleinvaal River)

    4. H. laceratus Lundblad
      Western Cape and Mpumalanga (Kafferspruit)

    5. H. sanguineas sanguineas Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    6. H. sanguineas transvaalensis K.O.Viets
      KwaZulu-Natal (Klip River) and Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Kleinvaal River)

    7. H. sarsi Thor
      Western Cape (Retreat Station; Bergvliet [temporary pond, now gone!]; Zeekoevlei)

    8. H. segregatus K.O.Viets
      KwaZulu-Natal (Klip River) and Mpumalanga (Kleinvaal River)

    9. H. sigthori sigthori Viets
      Western Cape (Sandvlei, Lakeside) and Mpumalanga (Vaal River headwater)

    10. H. sigthori rubicundus Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    11. H. soari Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River; Betty's Bay) and Mpumalanga (Great Usutu River and many other localities), to Zimbabwe


  2. Genus: HYGROBATOPSIS
    1. H. levipalpis Viets
      Mpumalanga (Kleinvaal River)


  3. Genus: PLESIOHYGROBATES
    1. P. pectinipalpis Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River; Kaaimans River) and Eastern Cape (Kruis River)


  4. Genus: AFRICACARUS
    1. A. strenzkei K.O.Viets
      Western Cape (Storms River; Kaaimans River)


  5. Genus: DIVERSIBATES
    Running water, stones in current
    1. D. pilosus Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River; Platteklip Stream, Kirstenbosch)



Subfamily: ATRACTIDINAE

  1. Genus: AMBIGUOBATES
    Running water
    1. A. peltoporus Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    2. A. permixtus permixtus Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    3. A. permixtus agnewi K.O.Viets
      Western Cape (Kaaimans River)


  2. Genus: HYGROBATOMEGAPUS
    Running water
    1. H. spathuliferus spathuliferus Lundblad
      Mpumalanga (Kafferspruit; Vaal River; Kleinvaal River; Nels River)

    2. H. spathuliferus coriaceus Lundblad
      Mpumalanga (Olifants River; Komati River, lower Sabie River) and Northern Province (Palala River)


  3. Genus: ATRACTIDES
    Running water.
    1. A. assimilus K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River headwaters)

    2. A. coriacellus Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River), to Zimbabwe

    3. A. damkohleri (Viets)
      Mpumalanga (Olifants River; Sabie River; Komati River; Blyde River; Crocodile River; Nels River; Kleinvaal River), to Zimbabwe

    4. A. invidendus K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Crocodile River; Kafferspruit)

    5. A. kuhlmanni K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Mlumati at Richtershoek)

    6. A. latisetus (Viets)
      Mpumalanga (Sabie River; Crocodile River; Komati River)

    7. A. linearis (Lundblad)
      Eastern Cape (Grobbelaar's River) and Mpumalanga (Kafferspruit; Kleinvaal River)

    8. A. pulcher Viets
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)

    9. A. rostellatus K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River)

    10. A. scutelliferus K.O.Viets
      Eastern Cape (Kruis River)

    11. A. scutifer (Lundblad)
      KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu Reserve; Ingvavuma River) and Mpumalanga (Crocodile River)

    12. A. sudafricanus Viets
      Western Cape (Keurbooms River) and Mpumalanga (Great Usutu River)

    13. [ A. tenuipes ambiguus K.O.Viets
      Zimbabwe ]

    14. A. thoractus Koenike
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River source swamp)



Family: UNIONICOLIDAE

Subfamily: ENCENTRIDOPHORINAE

  1. Genus: ENCENTRIDOPHORUS
    1. E. spinifer (Koenike)
      Northern Province (Magalakwena River), to Mozambique



Subfamily: UNIONICOLINAE

  1. Genus: UNIONICOLA
    Parasitize unionid bilvalves
    1. U. crassipes (Müller)
      Western Cape (Retreat Station)



Subfamily: HETERATACINAE

  1. Genus: HETERATAX
    1. H. falcipes Lundblad
      Eastern Cape (Gleniffer, Kei Road, near Grahanstown)



Subfamily: NEUMANIINAE

  1. Genus: NEUMANIA
    Running water
    1. N. aequalis K.O.Viets
      Western Cape (Kaaimans River), KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu) and Mpumalanga (Vaal River, headwaters; Nels River)

    2. N. curtipalpis K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Waterval River)

    3. N. dura dura Viets
      Western Cape (Kaaimans River) and Mpumalanga (Lake Chrissie)

    4. N. fissiseta Lundblad
      KwaZulu-Natal (Shokwe Pan, Ndumu Reserve)

    5. N. gretae K.O.Viets
      KwaZulu-Natal (Shokwe Pan, Ndumu Reserve)

    6. N. inaequalis K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Mlumati at Richtershoek; Crocodile River)

    7. N. marginata Viets
      KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu Reseve)

    8. N. meridiana Viets
      Western Cape (Cape Town), KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu Reserve), Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Magalakwena River) and Gauteng (Pretoria)

    9. N.. papilligera Viets
      Mpumalanga (Crocodile River)

    10. N. procera K.O.Viets
      KwaZulu-Natal (Wilge River)

    11. N. proxima Viets
      Western Cape (Zeekoevlei; Plumstead)

    12. N. ulcerosa K.O.Viets
      Eastern Cape (Grahamstown) and Mpumalanga (Mt. Anderson)

    13. N. verrucipora Viets
      Western Cape (upper Steenbras River) and Mpumalanga (Waterval River)

    14. Neumania sp. K.O.Viets
      KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu, Nyamanini Pan)


  2. Genus: SUBKOENIKEA
    1. S. capensis capensis Lundblad
      Eastern Cape (Grahamstown) and Zimbabwe

    2. S. capensis differens K.O.Viets
      Western Cape (Storms River; Kaaimans River)


  3. Genus: KOENIKEA
    1. K. szalayi Viets.
      Western Cape (Great Berg River)


  4. Genus: SUBNEUMANNIA
    1. S. dura (Viets)
      Mpumalanga (Lake Chrissie)


  5. Genus: ECPOLUS
    1. E. tuberatus continentalis K.O.Viets.
      Western Cape (Kaaimans River)



Family: PIONIDAE

Subfamily: PIONINAE

  1. Genus: PIONA

      Standing water: lakes, ponds and backwaters
    1. [ P. acuminata Walter & Bader
      Mozambique ]

    2. P. calgifera worthingtoni Lundblad
      Western Cape (Cape Town) and Gauteng (Pretoria)

    3. P. coccinea Walter
      Western Cape (Zeekoevlei; Retreat Station) and Gauteng (Florida Lake; Lake Chrissie)

    4. P. tridens (Thor)
      Western Cape (Retreat Station; Chapman's Bay, Noordhoek; Langevlei; Sandvlei, Lakeside), KwaZulu-Natal (Wilge River; Ndumu Reserve), Free State (Liebenbergvlei River), Gauteng (Vaal Barrage) Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Lake Chrissie), Northern Province (Magalakwena River) and Northwestern Province (Potchefstroom)



Family: AXONOPSIDAE

Subfamily: AXONOPSINAE

  1. Genus: AXONOPSALBIA
    1. A. procera Viets
      Mpumalanga (Kleinvaal River)


  2. Genus: STORMAXONELLA
    1. S. scutulata Viets
      Western Cape (Storms River)


  3. Genus: AXONOPSIS
    1. A. gracilipalpis Viets
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Kleinvaal River)

    2. A. pusilla Viets
      Western Cape (Grobbelaar's River) and Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Kafferspruit; Crocodile River)

    3. [ A. sokolowi K.O.Viets.
      Zimbabwe ]

    4. A. tuberculata Walter
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Sabie River; Crocodile River)



Subfamily: FRONTIPODOPSINAE

  1. Genus: KARLVIETSIA
    1. K. angustipalpis K.O.Viets
      Western Cape (Kaaimans River)

    2. K. brevipalpis K.O.Viets
      Western Cape (Kaaimans River; Storms River)



Subfamily: ALBIINAE

  1. Genus: ALBIA
    1. A. hystrix Viets
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River)

    2. A. pulchra K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Crocodile River)



Family: ATURIDAE

Subfamily: ATURINAE

  1. Genus: KONGSBERGIA
    1. [ K. caudata Cook
      Zimbabwe ]



Family: MIDEOPSIDAE

Subfamily: MIDEOPSINAE

  1. Genus: MIDEOPSIS
    1. [ M. ferruginea (Viets)
      Zimbabwe ]

    2. [ M. harrisoni K.O.Viets
      Zimbabwe ]



Subfamily: MIDEOPSELLINAE

  1. Genus: MIDEOPSELLIDES
    1. M. geae K.O.Viets
      Western Cape (Storms River; Kaaimans River)



Family: KRENDOWSKIIDAE

Subfamily: KRESDOWSKIINAE

  1. Genus: ALLOKRENDOWSKIA
    1. A. dentipes continentalis K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River source swamp)



Family: ARRENURIDAE

Subfamily: ARRENURINAE

  1. Genus: WURIA
    1. W. falciseta Viets
      Western Cape (Betty's Bay)


  2. Genus: AFRICASIA
    1. A. obscuripora (Viets)
      Western Cape (Kaaimans River)

    2. [ A. arrhenuripalpis (Viets)
      Zimbabwe ]


  3. Genus: THORACOPHORACURUS
    1. T. gibberosus K.O.Viets
      Western Cape (Kaaimans River; Storms River)


  4. Genus: ARRENURUS
    Standing water: lakes, ponds and backwaters
    1. A. brevigenitalis K.O.Viets
      Eastern Cape (Grahamstown), KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu Reserve) and Mpumalanga (Waterval River; Vaal River; Kleinvaal River; Kafferspruit)

    2. A. brevigenitalis permutatus K.O.Viets
      Eastern Cape (Slaaikraal, Grahamstown)

    3. A. capensis Thor
      Western Cape (Zeekoevlei; Sandvlei, Lakeside; Betty' Bay), KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu Reserve) and Gauteng (Pretoria)

    4. A. chappuisi grandis Walter & Bader
      Mpumalanga (Lake Chrissie; Pretoria)

    5. A. concavus chutteri K.O.Viets
      Eastern Cape (Slaaikraal, Grahamstown)

    6. A. convexus Thor
      Western Cape (Retreat Station; between Chapman's Bay and Fish Hoek)

    7. A. cooki K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River source swamp)

    8. A. dentifer Lundblad
      Guateng (Blairgowrie)

    9. A. dumazeri Motas
      KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu)

    10. A. fissicauda Lundblad
      Eastern Cape (Gleniffer near Grahamstown)

    11. A. fistulifer K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Lake Chrissie)

    12. A. glenifferensis Lundblad
      Western Cape (Cape Town), Eastern Cape (Gleniffer near Grahamstown), KwaZulu-Natal (Ndumu reserve) and Gauteng (Pretoria)

    13. A. larochei Walker
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Kleinvaal River; White River), Gauteng (Pretoria), to Zimbabwe

    14. A. longigenitalis longigenitalis K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Waterval River), to Zimbabwe

    15. A. longigenitalis triseticus K.O.Viets
      Eastern Cape (Slaaikraal, Grahamstown)

    16. A. meridionalis Thor
      Western Cape (Zeekoevlei; Sandvlei, Lakeside)

    17. A. obliquus Koenike
      Gauteng (Blairgowrie)

    18. A. pectinatus Koenike
      Mpumalanga (Lake Chrissie)

    19. A. purcelli Thor
      Western Cape (Bergvliet Farm)

    20. A. setifissus K.O.Viets
      Eastern Cape (Slaaikraal, Grahamstown)

    21. [ A. tubifer Walter
      Mozambique ]

    22. A. turmasetosus K.O.Viets
      Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Kleinvaal River; Waterval River)

    23. A. voeltzkowi Koenike
      Eastern Cape (Grahamstown)

    24. Arrenurus sp. K.O.Viets 1959
      Western Cape (Cape Town)

    25. Arrenurus sp. K.O.Viets 1965.
      Western Cape (Nutsie, near Bredasdorp), Mpumalanga (Vaal River; Magalakwena River) and Northwestern Province (Potchefstroom)

References

Viets, Karl 1953.
Die aus Afrika bekannten Wassermilben (Hydrachnellae, Acari). Hydrobiologia 5: 1-178
Viets, Kurt O. 1970.
Unser Zuwachs an Kenntnissen über die aus Afrika bekannten Wassermilben (Hydrachnellae, Acari). Hydrobiologia 35: 65-126
Viets, Kurt O. 1970.
Wassermilben aus Südafrika (Hydrachnellae, Acari). Acarologia 12: 752-779.
Viets, Kurt O. 1973.
Wassermilben (Hyrachnellae, Acari) aus der Umgebung von Grahamstown, Cape Province, South Africa, Gewässer und Abwässer 52: 52-67,
These papers are now held by Dr. Jennie Day, Freshwater Research Unit, University of Cape Town
This part of A Catalogue of South African Aquatic Insects revised: