Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Mites and Ticks (Acari) » Acariformes » Oribatids (Oribatida) » Brachypylina » Hydrozetoidea » Hydrozetidae » Hydrozetes
Photo#953812
Aquatic Bug - Hydrozetes
Copyright © 2014 CalicoKitties

Aquatic Bug - Hydrozetes
Texas, USA
July 9, 2014
I've seen a lot of these bugs in my fish tank. It's a freshwater tank & the temp is kept at about 76°F. It appears to have a bubble inside of it and it is a dark brown color. It had four legs on each side (eight legs total). Also, you can't see it in this picture, but it had a little tiny hook on the tips of each of its feet & I think there were also a few hairs on the ends of it's legs.. But this image was taken through a microscope; these bugs are TINY! Just little dots! I'm extremely curious about what it is. Any help is appreciated.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by CalicoKitties on 9 July, 2014 - 4:07pm
Last updated 12 July, 2014 - 11:47am

Moved
Moved from Mites and Ticks.

New Superfamily for the Guide!
… Ken Wolgemuth, 12 July, 2014 - 11:47am login or register to post comments

Hydrozetes
Your critters are aquatic mites of the genus Hydrozetes (Acariformes: Oribatida: Hydrozetidae). They are herbivorous/detritivorous and pose no danger to your fish. Sometimes they do float about by generating a gas bubble in their guts, as you have observed.

Cheers,
Heather
… Heather Proctor, 12 July, 2014 - 11:17am login or register to post comments

 
Thank you so much! I'm very g
Thank you so much! I'm very glad to know that they won't harm my other critters. ;)
… CalicoKitties, 12 July, 2014 - 4:23pm login or register to post comments

Cropped and moved for expert attention
Moved from ID Request.

Mite of some kind. The experts will be able to tell you more.

Welcome to BugGuide!
… Ken Wolgemuth, 9 July, 2014 - 4:24pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks!
Thanks!
… CalicoKitties, 9 July, 2014 - 4:33pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact