Prey detection by the water mite Unionicola crassipes (Acari: Unionicolidae)

SUMMARY. 1. The importance of different senses in prey detection by the common water mite Unionicola carssipes was investigated. 2. Mechanoreception is likely to be the most important mode of detection; mites preferentially attacked vibrating over non‐vibrating glass probes. The net‐stance, a characteristic posture in which the mite raises its first two sets of legs from the substrate and orients toward vibrations in the water column, is assumed by U. crassipes when hunting. 3. Chemoreception may have a role in area‐restricted search: mites exposed to prey‐conditioned water were more sedentary than those exposed to unconditioned water. For a sit‐and‐wait predator like U. crassipes , remaining still in an area that contains prey will result in a greater predator/prey encounter rate. It is possible that contact chemoreception is used to determine the palatability of an already captured prey item, but mites did not attempt to capture prey they had touched unless the prey moved. 4. Vision is not necessary for prey capture; however, mites captured more prey in the light than in the dark. It is not clear whether this is because vision plays a part in prey detection or because prey behave differently in the two situations.