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Research on water mites has mainly focused on their ecology, taxonomy and faunistics. Studies on the biology of particular species and their fecundity have been conducted much less often, and there is very little such information from the Balkan Peninsula. The present study attempts to fill in some of the gaps in the existing knowledge upon reproduction of water mites. Female individuals were collected from Lake Skadar and its catchment in Montenegro, in May and October 2014. Then they were placed in 40 ml beakers until eggs were laid and observed until the larvae were hatched. The eggs were laid by females representing 15 species. The numbers of egg-laying females of a given species ranged from 1 to 124. The average number of eggs laid by a female ranged from 1 to 60. The number of eggs laid in May was much higher than in October. Females which lays the most eggs (representing 9 species) were collected in springs, followed by Lake Skadar (7 species) and in rivers (4 species). Only one species, Hygrobates setosus, was encountered in all types of waters studied, two species were encountered in the lake and in springs (Lebertia ineaqualisand Fiona disparilis), and one (Hygrobates fluviatilis)in springs and in rivers. In general, the highest numbers of eggs were laid by females from rivers, followed by those from springs and from the lake. The average time of embryonic development ranged from 9 days (Hydrochoreutes kramert)to 20 days (Atractides fonticulusand Protzia eximia), while the total incubation period ranged from 9 to 30 days. It seems that the water mites laid higher number of eggs in the spring than in the autumn. Hatching time depends on the temperature. The number of eggs laid by one female is characteristic of the species or genus.

Research on water mites has mainly focused on their ecology, taxonomy and faunistics. Studies on the biology of particular species and their fecundity have been conducted much less often, and there is very little such information from the Balkan Peninsula. The present study attempts to fill in some of the gaps in the existing knowledge upon reproduction of water mites. Female individuals were collected from Lake Skadar and its catchment in Montenegro, in May and October 2014. Then they were placed in 40 ml beakers until eggs were laid and observed until the larvae were hatched. The eggs were laid by females representing 15 species. The numbers of egg-laying females of a given species ranged from 1 to 124. The average number of eggs laid by a female ranged from 1 to 60. The number of eggs laid in May was much higher than in October. Females which lays the most eggs (representing 9 species) were collected in springs, followed by Lake Skadar (7 species) and in rivers (4 species). Only one species, Hygrobates setosus, was encountered in all types of waters studied, two species were encountered in the lake and in springs (Lebertia ineaqualisand Piona disparilis), and one (Hygrobates fluviatilis) in springs and in rivers. In general, the highest numbers of eggs were laid by females from rivers, followed by those from springs and from the lake. The average time of embryonic development ranged from 9 days (Hydrochoreutes krameri) to 20 days (Atractides fonticulusand Protzia eximia), while the total incubation period ranged from 9 to 30 days. It seems that the water mites laid higher number of eggs in the spring than in the autumn. Hatching time depends on the temperature. The number of eggs laid by one female is characteristic of the species or genus.

We present the first data from Poland concerning parasitism of Hydrachnidia on Chironomidae. Larvae of Hygrobatessp., H. setosus, Unionicola aculeataand Piona stjoerdalensiswere found attached to adult Chironomidae (Cricotopus triannulatus, Tanytarsussp., Paratanytarsussp., Critocopussp. and Orthocladiussp.). Intensity of infestation ranged between 1 to 2 larvae. All of the parasites were attached to abdomens of the hosts. The determination of parasitism of U. aculeataon Paratanytarsusand Tanytarsusgenera extends the list of the hosts of this water mite species to the mentioned genera of Chironomidae. In case of H. setosus, the parasitism of this water mite on currently known hosts from the family Chironomidae has been confirmed.

We present the first data from Poland concerning parasitism of Hydrachnidia on Chironomidae. Larvae of Hygrobates sp., H. setosus, Unionicola aculeata and Piona stjoerdalensis were found attached to adult Chironomidae (Cricotopus triannulatus, Tanytarsus sp., Paratanytarsus sp., Critocopus sp. and Orthocladius sp.). Intensity of infestation ranged between 1 to 2 larvae. All of the parasites were attached to abdomens of the hosts. The determination of parasitism of U. aculeata on Paratanytarsus and Tanytarsus genera extends the list of the hosts of this water mite species to the mentioned genera of Chironomidae. In case of H. setosus, the parasitism of this water mite on currently known hosts from the family Chironomidae has been confirmed.