On the taxonomy of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) described from the Palaearctic, part 1: Hydrachnidae, Limnocharidae and Eylaidae

Abstract

This paper collects taxonomic changes in the families Hydrachnidae, Limnocharidae and Eylaidae which become necessary following revision of material from museum collections and recent field work. The following synonyms are established: Family Hydrachnidae, genus Hydrachna: The subgenera Anohydrachna Thor, 1916, Diplohydrachna Thor, 1916, Rhabdohydrachna K. Viets, 1931 are synonyms of Hydrachna s.str.; H. globosa neumani Lundblad, 1962a, and H. globosa rotundata Láska, 1964, are synonyms of H. globosa (De Geer, 1778); H. halberti Soar, 1908, H. levis Williamson, 1913 and H. levis acuminata K.O. Viets, 1954 are synonyms of H. incisa Halbert, 1903; H. perpera Koenike, 1908 is a synonym of H. processifera Koenike, 1903; H. skorikowi integra K. Viets, 1930 is a synonym of H. schneideri Koenike, 1895. Family Eylaidae, genus E ylais: E. bisinuosa nodipons K. Viets, 1919 is a synonym of E. bisinuosa Piersig, 1899; E. rimosa proceripalpis K. Viets, 1930 is a synonym of E. mutila Koenike, 1897; E. puripons K.Viets, 1930, E. bisinuosa oligotricha Lundblad, 1936, E. planipons novata K. Viets 1942 and E. canariensis Lundblad, 1962b are synonyms of E. planipons Walter, 1924. The following species must be regarded species incertae: Family Hydrachnidae, genus Hydrachna: H. aspratilis Koenike, 1897, H. bivirgulata Piersig, 1897a, H. brehmi Szalay, 1955, H. denudata Piersig, 1896, H. inermis Piersig, 1895, H. levigata Koenike, 1897, H. papilligera K. Viets, 1919, H. piersigi Koenike, 1897, H. regulifera Koenike, 1908, H. williamsoni Soar, 1908. Family Eylaidae, Eylais glubokensis Udalzov, 1907. The geographical origin of Hydrachna extorris Koenike, 1897, probably collected outside Europe, is unclear.

First record of larvae of the water mite Hydrachna processifera Piersig, 1895 from Turkey (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Hydrachnidae)

“…Later it was recorded in various parts of Europe but without clearly defined diagnostic features; it was synonymized with H. processifera by Davids et al (2005, 2007). Hydrachna processifera is the only species of genus Hydrachna which attaches to its hosts on the external integument; all other species attach the under elytra (Zawal 2002).…”

“…The situation is much more difficult because of the presence of pre-adult stages such as larvae and deutonymphs. For instance, Hydrachna inermis Piersig, 1895 has been synonymized with H. processifera Piersig, 1895 by Davids et al (2005, 2007). Larvae of H. inermis were described by Sparing (1959) and Wainstein (1980) based on variable and questionable features of adults and these larvae were synonymized with H. processifera as well (Davids et al 2005, 2007).…”

“…For instance, Hydrachna inermis Piersig, 1895 has been synonymized with H. processifera Piersig, 1895 by Davids et al (2005, 2007). Larvae of H. inermis were described by Sparing (1959) and Wainstein (1980) based on variable and questionable features of adults and these larvae were synonymized with H. processifera as well (Davids et al 2005, 2007). All subsequent information about the parasitic behavior of H. inermis on Dytiscidae (Sparing 1959, Zawal 2002) should be recognized as H. processifera .…”

The water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) of the standing waters of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily: review and new data

“…Published records: Sardinia, Sicily (Gerecke 1991), Sardinia (Davids et al 2005). Habitat and biology: temporary and permanent standing waters.…”

“…Family Limnocharidae 11. Limnochares aquatica (Linnaeus, 1758) Published records: Corsica (Santucci 1965(Santucci , 1971Gerecke & Di Sabatino 2013), Sicily (Davids et al 2005). Habitat and biology: lakes and ponds, pools of shaded streams.…”