Ecology of the Watermite Feltria romijni Besseling

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Abstract
The life-cycle of Feltria romijni was studied using core samples and emergence traps. The eggs are laid in May and June. The larvae parasitise the chirono-mid, Tanytarsus flavidulus. When the larvae return to the stream they moult to the nymphochrysalid in about 14 days and emerge as a nymph after another week. The nymphal stage is most abundant in Aug. They pass through the teleiochrysalid stage in Sept. emerging as young adults in Oct. The adults and a few nymphs over-winter in the stream. A survivorship curve is described. An unexplained mortality of young adults occurred in Oct. During the rest of the year few adults died. During periods of low numbers of hosts and in areas of the stream where host numbers were low the mite larvae parasitized a greater percentage of hosts and had more larvae on those parasitized. If a feedback mechanism for population regulation exists in F. romijni it will most likely be associated with the mortality of the young adults in Oct. or with the mite''s relationship with its host.

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