A new water mite genus from western Canada (Acari: Parasitengona: Anisitsiellidae)

Abstract

A new genus and species of the Anisitsiellidae, collected from a seepage area in central British Columbia, is described. The genus is noteworthy because, like Bandakia, it has a complete, unsculptured dorsal shield and the fourth tarsi bear well-developed terminal claws, although the appearance of a gland opening in coxa I is unique. The possession of a simple palp in this mamersopsoid genus further serves to justify the inclusion of the genera formerly belonging to the family Mamersopsidae within the family Anisitsiellidae.