The biology of Unionicola formosa (Dana and Whelpley): a water mite parasitic in the unionid bivalve, Anodonta cataracta (Say), in a New Brunswick lake

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Abstract
The eggs, teleiochrysalis and adults of the water mite U. formosa (Dana and Whelpley) occur in A. cataracta whereas only the egg stage is found in the other 3 unionid bivalves [Elliptio complanata, Lampsilis ochracea and Anonclonta implicata] in Morice Lake, New Brunswick [Canada]. There is no selectivity for host sex. Female mites do not reside in smaller bivalves. The incidence of infection and host loading increases with bivalve length. No evidence was found for territoriality of females within the host or for seasonal variations in abundance of either males or females. Only 1 male mite resides in each infected host. Incidence of infection increases with host size up to 5 cm and then remains stable at about 52%. A positive male-female association occurs during the warm water period but not after the water cools. The sex ratio is 1.60 females:1 male. The teleiochrysalis occurs in the siphons during July at a density approximately 2.5 times that of the adults. Eggs are laid from late May until early July in the mantle tissue of most available hosts. The eggs hatch the following June and the larvae leave. Nymphs are found periodically except when teleiochrysalises are present. The available data suggest a 3-yr life cycle for U. formosa.

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