Vicinaxonopsis Cook, 1974

Smith, Ian M., Cook, David R. & Gerecke, Reinhard, 2015, Revision of the status of some genus-level water mite taxa in the families Pionidae Thor, 1900, Aturidae Thor, 1900, and Nudomideopsidae Smith, 1990 (Acari: Hydrachnidiae), Zootaxa 3919 (1), pp. 111-156 : 145

Genus Vicinaxonopsis Cook, 1974 stat. nov.

Axonopsis (Vicinaxonopsis) Cook, 1974a , pp. 335, 459, figs. 1408–1410, 1412, 1418, 1422. Axonopsis (Vicinaxonopsis) Cook: 1974b , p. 70, figs. 59, 62, 82, 86. Axonopsis (in part): Smith & Cook, 1991, p. 577.

Axonopsis (in part): Smith et al., 2001, p. 614.

Axonopsis (in part): Smith et al., 2010, p. 555.

Diagnosis. Larva: Unknown.

Adults (modified from Cook 1974a, 1974b): Character states of Axonopsis -like mites. Dorsal and ventral shields broadly fused anteriorly; lacking caudal development posteriorly. Dorsal furrow lacking glandularia. Dorsal shield bearing five pairs of glandularia none of which flank excretory pore. Ventral shield on each side with ridge originating at lateral end of suture line between third and fourth coxal plates extending anterolaterally to lateral edge of shield; anterior coxal plates relatively wide and lacking hook-like projections; fourth coxal plate bearing two pairs of glandularia near midpoint of region between genital field and opening for insertion of fourth leg. Genital field bearing three pairs of acetabula. Suture lines between genital field and ventral shield obliterated. Gnathosoma with mouth opening subterminal in position; gnathosomal apodemes extremely long, extending posteriorly to near midlength of fourth coxal plates. Pedipalp tibia moderately long and stout, convex ventrally, and bearing two long, moderately thick sessile setae proximoventrally; tarsus extremely long and tapered distally. Fourth leg with segments not flattened and telofemur not reduced in size.

Type species. Axonopsis (Vicinaxonopsis) californica Cook.

Species included. Vicinaxonopsis burechi (Petrova) ( Bulgaria) , V. californica (Cook) (western United States of America), V. c a s p i c a (Pešić & Saboori) ( Iran), V. cooki (Orghidan & Gruia) ( Cuba) , V. iranica (Pešić, Jabaleh & Saboori) ( Iran) , V. m i ur a i (Imamura) ( Japan), V. m ot as i (Orghidan & Gruia) ( Cuba), V. schwoerbeli (Pešić & Gerecke) (Sardinia) , V. solangei (Orghidan & Gruia) ( Cuba) . There is an undescribed species of Vicinaxonopsis from southwestern North America in the Canadian National Collection of Insects and Arachnids.

Distribution. Western North America, Caribbean, Eurasia (southern Europe, western Asia, Japan).

Discussion. Cook (1974a, 1974b) considered Vicinaxonopsis to be a subgenus of Axonopsis , and Smith & Cook (1991), Smith et al. (2001, 2010), Pešić & Gerecke (2003), Pešić et al. (2006), and Pešić et al. (2009) followed that treatment. Here we propose to elevate the taxon to the rank of full genus based on the unique combination of character states listed above.