A review of the water mite fauna from the Australasian and Pacific region (Acari: Hydrachnidia)

A review is given of the water mite fauna of the Australasian and Pacific region. Within the Australasian region, New Zealand has the highest percentage of endemism. It is concluded that the water mite fauna of the islands in the South Pacific is of Australasian origin, while the water mite fauna of islands in the northern Pacific is of Asian origin. One Gondwanan genus, i.e. Aspidiobates, is found on Vanuatu, the most easterly record of the genus thus far. The numbers of water mite species on Pacific Islands east of New Caledonia is low.