Trichothyas K. Viets, 1926

Gerecke, Reinhard, 2020, The early derivative water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia, superfamilies Eylaoidea, Hydrachnoidea and Hydryphantoidea) of Madagascar, Zootaxa 4727 (1), pp. 1-77 : 34

Genus Trichothyas K. Viets, 1926

Species of this genus are reported from many parts of the world, but mostly from tropical and subtropical areas. Within the genus, a high morphological uniformity is observed, and an interesting tendency to form intersexual specimens ( Gerecke 1996). Possibly, larval parasitism on tipulomorph dipterans ( Mitchell 1953) allows populations to keep gene flow over wide areas with their aerial drifting hosts.

In addition to Trichothyas s.s., four more subgenera are described, Lundbladia K. Viets, 1929 , Kashmirothyas Lundblad, 1934 , Plesiothyas K. Viets, 1935 and Neothyas Lundblad, 1941 . Three of these are represented in Africa: Trichothyas (s. str.) pennata K. Viets, 1913 ( Cameroon), T. (Plesiothyas) multipora Walter, 1935 ( Ivory Coast), and T. (Lundbladia) cunctans (Lundblad, 1951) ( Tanzania, Kenya).