Aturus scapulatus Gerecke & Di Sabatino, 2013

Gerecke, Reinhard, 2014, Studies on European species of the water mite family Aturidae Thor (Acari: Hydrachnidia), Zootaxa 3841 (1), pp. 1-46 : 20-21

Aturus scapulatus Gerecke & Di Sabatino, 2013

Fig. 14

Material examined. Type series (see Gerecke & Di Sabatino 2013): France: Corsica, benf 82 (1/1/0); F 46 (1/0/0); Italy: Sardinia, I 359 (1/3/0); I 375 (1/0/0); I 1156 (1/0/0).

Uncertain attribution. Italy: Sardinia, I 359 (0/10/0).

Remark. Tentatively, 10 females from site I 359 which were not included in the type series, are here attributed to A. scapulatus , extending the description of this sex. In addition to the indications in the original description, females collected together with male A. scapulatus at sites benf 82 and I 359 have the following characteristics (measurements as mean, minimum-maximum in parentheses): Idiosoma L/W 318 (306–342)/255 (243–275); idiosoma dorsal L 300 (280–324); dorsal shield L/W 279 (265–310)/218 (206–238); Dgl-4/5 far distanced from Dgl-3 at posterolateral margin, distance ratio Dgl-3–4/Dgl-4–5, 3.3 (2.8–4.0); Vgl lying in secondary sclerotization, close to the posterior margin of primary sclerotization. Three specimens contain each one large, elongated egg (L/W 135–148/81–85). In the position of Vgl and properties of the genital field (acetabula low in number, 6–8, often with irregular outline, bi-or trilobate), these females are similar to A. barbatulus . The latter have a generally lower Dgl-3–4/Dgl-4–5 ratio (<3.0). Furthermore, the investigated females of A. scapulatus have generally larger acetabula, with acetabulum 3–4 (counting from the medial line) being particularly enlarged.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Aturus scapulatus (from Gerecke & Di Sabatino 2013) A. – E. male; A. dorsum; B. IV-L- 4 – 6 posterior; C. IV-L- 4 – 6 anterior; D. palp medially; E. P- 4 / 5 laterally. F. – G. female; F. venter; G. palp. Scale bars = 100 µm.