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Reproductive parameters of four species of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia)

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This paper presents information on the oviposition, embryonic development, egg production, and reproductive success in water mites (Hydrachnidia) under laboratory conditions. The study was carried out on four common and numerous species in Poland: Hydrodroma despiciens (lake population), Hygrobates fluviatilis (river population), Hygrobates longipalpis (lake and river populations) and Mideopsis orbicularis (lake and river populations). For H. longipalpis and M. orbicularis there were no significant differences between the number of eggs deposited by females from river and lake populations. The time of embryonic development in all species was relatively similar. In all analysed species, the mean time of embryonic development shortened with the lengthening of the day. All species were characterised by very high egg hatching success.

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  1. Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury, Plac Łódzki 3, 10-727, Olsztyn, Poland

    Maria Cichocka, Eugeniusz Biesiadka & Ewa Pusz

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  1. Maria Cichocka
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Correspondence to Maria Cichocka.

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Cichocka, M., Biesiadka, E. & Pusz, E. Reproductive parameters of four species of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia). Biologia 70, 1393–1400 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2015-0154

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