MORPHOLOGY OF LARVAE, DEUTONYMPHS, AND ADULTS OF THE WATER MITE NAJADICOLA INGENS (PROSTIGMATA: PARASITENGONA: HYGROBATOIDEA) WITH REMARKS ON PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AND REVISION OF TAXONOMIC PLACEMENT OF NAJADICOLINAE

Abstract

AbstractAdults and deutonymphs of Najadicola ingens (Koenike) are redescribed and larvae are described for the first time. In light of larval, deutonymphal and adult character states, the phylogenetic relationship of Najadicola with genera in the families Pionidae and Unionicolidae is re-evaluated and transfer of the subfamily Najadicolinae to Pionidae is proposed. Original life history information is presented to supplement existing literature. Parasitism by larval N. ingens on an adult chironomid of the genus Polypedilum is reported. The unique behavioural and morphological characteristics of members of Najadicola suggest that mussel parasitism evolved independently from a parallel adaptive sequence in the genus Unionicola.