124 



UP AND DOWN THE BROOKS. 



This red mite has eight legs, and in shape is 

 much like a small spider. To look at the mite, 

 one would hardly think that it belonged in the 

 water, but it seems much at home in that ele- 

 ment, and I fear that when in the larval state the 

 creature is too much at home for the comfort of 



Water-mite Adult. Water-mite Larva. 



Hy drachma geographica, magnified. 



the other water creatures from which it takes its 

 food. For some of the larvaB of the HydracJi- 

 nidce are said to be parasitic on the gills of mus- 

 sels, and other larvae hang on the Water-skater 

 family, the Hydrometridce. Ranatra and the 

 Water-scorpions are also said to be bearers of 

 the nymphs of these pests. Some of the Water- 

 tiger beetles, Dytiscidce, are devourers of the 

 adult mites, however, so justice is sometimes 

 meted out to these evil-doers. Between the 

 leeches and the water-mites, one might think 

 that sometimes the life of the bravest bug or 

 beetle in the brook would become intolerable. 



