This genus contains the majority of species in the family Acartiidae:[2] Female Acartia release eggs freely in the water.

These species produce "resting eggs" when environmental conditions are unfavorable for the development and growth of nauplii.

Hatching and development of the species occur when the water cools (A. hudonica) or warms (A. tonsa, A. califoriensis).

"[5] Acartia are also known to exhibit a diel vertical migration pattern, swimming to depths during the day and rising to surface waters at night.

Additionally, other studies of Acartia (A. longiremis, A. grani and A. discandata) were found to have less chemoreceptors and more mechanoreceptive sensory hairs than other marine copepods, suggesting that diel feeding and migration patterns in Arcatia are primarily driven by physical and visual cues.