Atractides hyporheicus

Gerecke, Reinhard, 2003, Water mites of the genus Atractides Koch, 1837 (Acari: Parasitengona: Hygrobatidae) in the western Palaearctic region: a revision, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 138, pp. 141-378 : 302

ATRACTIDES HYPORHEICUS SCHWOERBEL, 1961

nom. nud. Schwoerbel, 1961a, descr. Schwoerbel, 1961b

Syn. to A. phreaticus ( Motaş & Tanasachi, 1948) : syn. nov.

Type series: Holotype lost, no specimen from the locus typicus in coll. Schwoerbel. Locus typicus: Kleine Wiese unterhalb Tegernau im südlichen Schwarzwald 1 ♂.

Material examined: SCHW Atractides hyporheicus TYPE ♂; Krummenbach hyp. Grundw., 1960 [type designation incorrect]; Atractides hyporheicus ♂ Steina, Okt. 61.

Discussion: In the first description, Schwoerbel (1961b) compared it with A. latipalpis , a species similar in having an enlarged P-4, but different in shape and setation of both palp and I-L-5 and -6. Regarding the morphology of the posterior margin of Cx-1 + 2 (mediocaudal margin of Cx-1 extremely reduced due to the apodemes of Cx-2 nearly touching medially) and of I-L-5 and -6 (with slender, homoiomorphic S-1 and -2 and very short and stout I-L-6) A. hyporheicus agrees with A. phreaticus , a species so far known only from females. All differences to A. phreaticus can be considered the product of sexual dimorphism: generally smaller measurements of idiosoma and appendages; more extended sclerotization of muscle attachments and presence of an additional, unpaired posterodorsal plate; narrower setal interspace; P-4 inflated, with strongly convex dorsal margin and enlarged in dorsal view. While males and females have not yet been found together at the same collecting site, in view of these agreements A. hyporheicus is here considered a synonym of A. phreaticus .