Woolastookia Habeeb, 1954

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 : 150

Genus Woolastookia Habeeb, 1954

Woolastookia: Cook, 1974a , p. 342, figs. 1453, 1455–1457, 1460. Woolastookia: Smith, 1977 , pp. 958, 962, figs. 18–25.

Woolastookia: Smith, 1984 , pp. 315–316, figs. 25–34.

Woolastookia: Smith & Cook, 1991 , pp. 553, 577, fig. 16.143.

Woolastookia: Smith et al., 2001 , pp. 581, 614, figs. 156, 160, 161, 364–367. Woolastookia: Smith et al., 2010 , pp. 523, 555, figs.15. 156, 15.160, 15.161, 15.365–15.368. Woolastookia: Gerecke, 2014b , pp. 36–40, figs. 26–27.

Diagnosis. Larva (modified from Smith 1977b, 1984 and based upon larvae of W. pilositarsa (Habeeb) and W. setosipes Habeeb , only species in genus with known larvae): Character states of Brachypoda -like mites. Third coxal plate with medial coxal apodeme absent and transverse muscle attachment scar present or absent. Posterior edge of third coxal plate bearing prominent pointed or elaborately lobed projection. Excretory pore plate much larger than excretory pore and nearly triangular or nearly quadrangular in shape, bearing setae ps1, ps2, and h2 posterolaterally with ps2 displaced medially and/or anteriorly. Numbers of setae and solenidia on leg segments as follows: ITi 8 (seta Ti10 absent); ITa 12 (seta Ta14 absent); IITa 12 (seta Ta14 absent).

Adults (modified from Cook 1974a): Character states of Brachypoda -like mites. Dorsal shield of males without a slight bulge posterior to midlength and lacking enlarged glandularia with extremely long associated setae. Ventral shield of males lacking a pronounced ridge extending anterolaterally from genital field region (but see below). Fourth coxal plate with opening for insertion of fourth leg lacking condyles; bearing a long ridge extending posteriorly from region of insertion of fourth legs to genital field region. Genital field bearing three pairs of acetabula; genital field of males located near posterior edge of ventral shield and relatively compact, with acetabula not extending laterally beyond level of insertion of fourth leg and without a patch of long setae immediately lateral to acetabula. Excretory pore borne on separate small platelet posterior to dorsal shield. Fourth leg of males with genu and tibia stout but not highly modified, and tarsus stout and bearing slightly modified claw socket and claws. Pedipalp femur lacking a distoventral projection and tibia lacking a thick seta and a ventral projection.

Type species. Brachypoda pilositarsa Habeeb.

Species included. Woolastookia pilositarsa (Habeeb) (eastern North America), W. basilicalabrica Gerecke (Europe) , W. elongata (Sokolow) (Russian Far East, Korea), W. foliata Tian-Ci Yi & Dao-Chao Jin ( China), W. gretae Viets ( Guatemala) , W. longula (Lundblad) ( Burma) , W. megaseta Tian-Ci Yi & Dao-Chao Jin ( China), W. minuta Gerecke & Pešić (Europe) , W. rotundifrons (Viets) , W. setosipes Habeeb (western North America). There are several undescribed species of Woolastookia from southwestern North America in the Canadian National Collection of Insects and Arachnids.

Distribution. Holarctic (North America, Eurasia).

Discussion. Cook (1974a) considered Woolastookia to be a distinct genus. Smith (1977b, 1984), Smith & Cook (1991), Smith et al. (2001, 2010), and Gerecke (2014b) followed that treatment, as we do here.