Major Group: Acarina
Minor Group: Halacaroidea
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Descriptive Features:
Pezidae
pedipalps obvious
mouthparts with long, curved rostrum and chelicerae below pedipalps
body rounded
body with long dorsal setae present, often set on plates
legs with long setae
legs radially directed
Peza daps has no eyes.
Size: up to 0.9 mm
Halacaridae
body rounded
pedipalps obvious
legs with long setae
legs 1 and 2 anteriorly directed
legs 3 and 4 posteriorly directed
Size: very small, length 399 µm, width 222 µm
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Pezidae |
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Halacaridae |
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Taxonomic Checklist:
Halacaridae
Astacopsiphagus parasiticus Viets, 1931
Lobohalacarus bunurong Harvey, 1988
Pezidae
Peza ops Harvey
Peza daps Harvey
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Distribution:
Astacopsiphagus parasiticus - unknown
Lobohalacarus bunurong - Thomson River, Vic
Peza ops - SE Aus
Peza daps - Otway Ranges, Vic
Sensitivity Rating: none
Functional Feeding Group: predators (parasites), predators, shredders?
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Broken River, Benalla Vic |
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Ecology: Instream habitat: Peza ops are benthic, living in large slow moving rivers or pools formed by temporary streams. Lobohalacarus bunurong occurs in the interstitial zone. Marine species of Halacaroidea are found in shallow waters on sand and algal substrata, as well as amongst vegetation, so it is possible that freshwater species also frequent similar habitats.
Feeding ecology: Peza daps has been found within the gill chamber of freshwater crayfish (Engaeus fultoni) and is presumed to be parasitic. Other species may be predators or algal feeders.
Habit:
Life history: Females of Pezidae attach eggs to their hind legs, but this has only been found on winter and spring-collected females.
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Information Sources: Krantz & Walter 2009, Harvey & Growns 1998, Harvey 1988b, Harvey 1990, Hawking & Smith 1997, Krantz 1978
Key to Families: Harvey 1990 or Harvey 1998
Key to Genera: None
Key to Species: Harvey 1990 (Pezidae: Peza)
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