Wandesia somnambula Gerecke, 1996

Sabatino, Antonio Di, Gerecke, Reinhard, Gledhill, Terence & Smit, Harry, 2009, On the taxonomy of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) described from the Palaearctic, part 2: Hydryphantoidea and Lebertioidea, Zootaxa 2266, pp. 1-34 : 18

Wandesia somnambula Gerecke, 1996

Material examined: Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Schönbuch (TÜ), Goldersbach near Bettelwegbrücke, interstitial dig 30.08.1998 Smit & Gerecke, (0/1/0). Romania [?], ex coll. Schwoerbel, (3/0/0) on an unlabelled slide in a box containing other taxa, unlabelled also, but undoubtedly originating from Romania, probably coll. Orghidan.

Description: The specimens agree with the original description from most points of view. Some additions and corrections of the diagnosis can be given as follows: Lateral eye lenses visible as areas of thickened integument. I-L-6 and II-L-6 ventrodistally both with two stout peg-like setae surrounded by numerous fine hair-like setae and at the anterior edge of the claw furrow, one strong, slender, slightly bifurcate rigid seta. Genital setae located on two very fine sclerotized strips divided by a narrow membranous interruption near Ac-2; Ac-2 slightly closer to Ac-1, separated from Ac-3 by a projection of the setae-bearing sclerotized strip. Gnathosoma in lateral view elevated, P-4 with nearly straight ventral, and slightly convex dorsal margins; ventral seta long, located in the distal third.

Male: Idiosoma L/W 2700-3400/500-700. Cx-I/II L/W 150-170/95-115; Cx-III+IV L/W 200/100, I-L-1-6 L/H 60-65/45, 70-75/55-58, 90-95/50, 115/42-45, 130-135/45-50, 130-145/36. Genital field L 150-170, on each side with 14-15 setae; Ac-1-3 max. L 28-35/35-42/37-45; ejaculatory complex L 160, in the typical "revolver shape" of many Wandesia species; gnathosoma ventral L 160; P-1-5 L/H: 20/48, 72/60, 48/62, 67/ 35, 32/12; P-4 stout (L/H ratio 2.5). Female: Idiosoma L/W 2400/500. Cx-I/II L/W 160/? [embedded in oblique position], Cx-III+IV L/W 170/100, I-L-1-6 L/H 55/50, 65/55, 95/43, 122/45, 135/40, 130/38. Genital field L 150, on each side with 10-12 setae; Ac-1-3 max. L 30-35-35; eggs oval, L/W 150/130. Anal pore 650 from the posterior end. Gnathosoma ventral L 100, dorsal L 110, chelicera L basal segment 140, claw 50, H 35; P-1-5 L/H: 25/30, 65/50, 35/45, 98/28, 27/10; P-4 more slender than in male (L/H ratio 3.5 – in paratype 3.0, original description given as 2.6 by error).

Discussion: Our data include the first record of a Pseudowandesia -species from Central Europe. Female and males described here agree well with the type series from a site in Bosnia, located about halfway between the two new locality records.