FIELD BOOK OF PONDS AND STREAMS 



After mating the females lay their eggs in gluey masses on 

 the undersides of leaves (Fig. i8), in fresh water sponges, on 

 the gills and mantles of mussels (Fig. 261), and on the bodies 

 of water insects, especially water striders, on which the bright 

 red larvae are familiar sights. Newly hatched mites have 

 but six legs; they molt several times before they finally take 

 on the shape of the adult. 



Season. — Water-mites can be found at all seasons of the 

 year, even under the ice in winter. Small but gaily conspicuous 

 ones are abundant in early spring, but the greatest number 

 appear in late summer and fall. During October and early 

 November they can be found by dozens in beds of Elodea. 



Aquarium study. — The largest water-mites are easily col- 

 lected with a water-net or dipped up with a big nosed bottle 

 as they hang motionless from water plants. They usually 

 live but a short time in aquaria and will stay there only if it 

 is enclosed by a fine wire screen. If they are to be kept for 

 study, they should be preserved in small vials of formalin in 

 the field (p. 41). 



Identification. — Table of subfamilies of water-mites (modi- 

 fied from Pratt) with common representatives. 



I . Large red mites with 4 eyes close together on a plate ; 

 eye plate long and narrow. Lim7iocharince (p. 177) 



Fig. 135. — Limnochares aquaticus. (From Ward 

 and Whipple.) 



176 



