OBSERVATIONS ON PARASITISM, DEVELOPMENT AND PHENOLOGY OF JOHNSTONIANA-TUBERCULATA SCHWEIZER 1951 (ACARI, PARASITENGONAE, JOHNSTONIANIDAE) INCLUDING A REDESCRIPTION OF ALL ACTIVE INSTARS

All active instars of Johnstoniana tuberculata Schweizer 1951 are desc ribed morphologically. J. tuberculata is a relatively small species of the genus Johnstoniana. It inhabits wet places near limnic waters and lives quite concealed, just beneath the surface of the litter layer. J. tuberculata is clearly univoltine. Eggs are deposited in autumn aft er sperm uptake by the females; adults die soon after reproduction. Th e diapausing egg constitutes the main hibernating instar, the larva em erges in May/June in strongly synchronized relations to its host, Limo nia sp. After undergoing the parasitic phase, the mites develop quite rapidly to the adult instar within the same year. The postlarval activ e instars prey on dipteran larvae and pupae.