Epicrius monticola Bregetova, 1977

Án, Peter Ma Ò, 2008, The family Epicriidae in Slovakia: annotated faunal synopsis and description of a new species of Epicrius (Acari, Mesostigmata, Epicriidae), Zootaxa 1880, pp. 48-68 : 56-57

Epicrius monticola Bregetova, 1977

Epicrius monticola Bregetova, 1977: 31 , 39; Karg, 1993: 244; Gwiazdowicz, 2000: 471.

not Epicrius monticola (= Epicrius tauricus Bregetova, 1977 ).— Kalúz & Žuffová, 1989: 224; Kalúz, 1998: 78.

Published data. See “Misidentification and dubious data from Slovakia ”.

New data. 1 Ψ, 1 ɗ – 6/2; 2 ΨΨ – 6/3; 4 ΨΨ, 1 ɗ – 7/1; 1 Ψ – 18/1; 1 Ψ – 25/1; 2 ΨΨ – 25/2; 9 ΨΨ, 1 ɗ – 26/1; 1 ɗ – 32/1; 1 Ψ – 32/2; 1 ɗ – 32/3.

Notes. This species was originally proposed in the identification keys to the genus Epicrius by Bregetova (1977). Based on specimens from Slovakia, this species is variable in respect to some main characters such as the number of setae on sternal shield and presence of two ventral platelets each bearing a ventral seta. So, the recognition of this species is slightly problematical, especially considering the unusual presence of a separate ventral shield in males. In E. monticola , there appear to be a gradient of variability from forms with three pairs of sternal setae inserted on the sternal shield and a pair of ventral setae on small suboval platelets, towards predominant forms with two pairs of setae on the sternal shield and a pair of ventral setae placed on soft cuticular integument (often one ventral seta situated on shield and other on soft cuticle).

Ecology. A local species showing slightly discontinuous distribution as it was found exclusively in a rather small area in the western part of Slovakia ( Fig. 1 ). This is particularly remarkable due to the fact that the species has an affinity to beech habitats (Fagion sylvaticae), which are widely distributed in Slovakia. Epicrius monticola also colonises mesophilous deciduous forests with oak and/or hornbeam (Quercetum, Carpinion betuli, Querco -Carpinetum). For example, it is absent in coniferous stands and avoids various forested alluvial stands with more humid substrates. In Slovakia, it was recorded at altitudes ranging from 200 to 1,020 m ( Fig. 2 ), with an optimum up to 600 m. Probably a south-eastern element expanding to other areas of Central Europe.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Known distribution of epicriid species in Slovakia (dotted area represents Pannonian flora distribution).

FIGURE 2. Distribution of relative abundance and frequency of the most common epicriids in dependence on altitude in Slovakia. Explanations: white bar – relative abundance, black bar – relative frequency.