Atractides (s. str.) gibberipalpis Piersig, 1898b

Gerecke, Reinhard, 2021, The water mites of the family Hygrobatidae (Acari, Hydrachnidia) in Italy, Zootaxa 5009 (1), pp. 1-85 : 23-24

Atractides (s. str.) gibberipalpis Piersig, 1898b

(Figs 28 K-M; 32 R)

Material examined: Basilicata : I 1122, 1/0/0 slide; Calabria: I 412, 1/2/0 (1/0/0 slide); I 425, 4/2/0 (1/1/0 slide); I 437, 0/2/0 (0/1/0 slide); I 1107, 1/1/0 slide; I 1111, 1/3/0 slide; I TG 18-02a, 1/0/1; I TG 18-03a, 4/1/0; Sardegna: I

TG 15-01a, 0/1/0; Sicilia: Northern Mountains; I 60, 1/0/0; I 177, 1/0/0 slide; I 502, 1/0/0 slide; I 517, 1/0/0 slide; I 532 Int 1, 1/0/0. 14 sites, 31 specimens .

Previously published records from Italy: Emilia-Romagna (uncertain: Gerecke & Di Sabatino 2013); Liguria ( Gerecke & Di Sabatino 2013); Lombardia ( Maglio 1906); Sardegna ( Gerecke 2014b); Trentino-Alto Adige ( Maglio 1909); Veneto (uncertain: Gerecke & Di Sabatino 2013).

Remarks: The recognition of females is not easy. Two features observed in the studied material could be helpful: (1) striation of the dorsocentral area irregular, with characteristic zig-zag-lines; (2) ventral seta I-L-5 rather distanced from distoventral edge - but with considerable variability range: relative length of distal sector of ventral margin in males 44 (37-55) %, in females 40 (33-46) %.

Habitat. - Rhithrobiont. In central Europe a typical inhabitant of low and middle order streams, in the area covered at several occasions also in springs; 350-1220 m; at I 532 Int 1 (450 m) in the hyporheic.

Distribution. Europe (except Fennoscandia), Asia Minor. In the area treated probably at the southern border of the distribution area, driven to lower order streams and springs.