Sperchonopsis verrucosa ( Protz, 1896 )

Martin, Peter, 2006, On the morphology and classification of larval water mites (Hydrachnidia, Acari) from springs in Luxembourg, Zootaxa 1138, pp. 1-44 : 11

Sperchonopsis verrucosa ( Protz, 1896)

Records ( Table 2): Benthos samples at two spring sites in Gutland, 9 individuals ( Gerecke et al. 2005). E7 22 larvae, parasitic on chironomids. Attribution by comparison with Martin (2000).

Descriptions of larvae ( Fig. 15 ): Protz (1896), Martin (2000).

Diagnostic characters of larvae: As in Sperchon setiger Thor, 1898 and S. insignis (Walter, 1906) (see below), and in contrast to the other Sperchontidae larvae reported here, the larva of Sperchonopsis verrucosa lacks setae C3. The larva of Sperchonopsis verrucosa differs from that of Sperchon insignis in, for example, their larger dorsal plate and short seta C4.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 20. Fig. 15: Sperchonopsis verrucosa, ventral idiosoma (from Martin 2000), Fig. 16: Sperchon clupeifer dorsal idiosoma (redrawn and modified after Ullrich 1976), Fig. 17: Sperchon setiger, dorsal idiosoma, Fig. 18: Sperchon setiger, ventral idiosoma and gnathosoma (from Renz et al. 2004), Fig. 19: Sperchon thienemanni, dorsal idiosoma, Fig. 20: Sperchon thienemanni, ventral idiosoma (Figs. 19 – 20 from Martin 2003).