ATURIDAE Thor, 1900

Pešić, Vladimir, Smit, Harry, Gerecke, Reinhard & Sabatino, Antonio Di, 2010, The water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) of the Balkan peninsula, a revised survey with new records and descriptions of five new taxa 2586, Zootaxa 2586 (1), pp. 1-100 : 69-81

Family ATURIDAE Thor, 1900

Subfamily Albiinae K. Viets, 1915

Genus Albia Thon, 1899

New record without species determination (first record of the genus in the treated area): Greece: GR74 Achaia , Aroánia , Kato Zachlorou, river Vouraikos near station, 400 m a.s.l., 38°10'N 22°14'E, 05.vi.1992, Gerecke (0/0/1) .

Remark: From the Mediterranean area, so far only Albia stationis Thon, 1899 is recorded ( Smit 1997, Pešić et al. 2006, Smit & Gerecke 2010).

Subfamily Aturinae Thor, 1900

Genus Aturus Kramer, 1875

New records without species determination: Greece: GR 28 Makedonia, Vernon , affl. Aliakmon between Gavros and Aposkepos, 450 m a.s.l., 40°39'N 21°11'E, 26.v.1991 Gerecke (0/1/0); GR59 Achaia, Erymanthos, Ano Vlassia, upper course Selinous river, 1000 m a.s.l., 37°57'N 21°47'E, 25.v.1992 Gerecke (0/1/0); GR68 Achaia, Aroánia, Kato Klitoria, Aroánias Potamos, Ag. Vlasios, 500 m a.s.l., 37°52'N 22°12'E, 31.v.1992 Gerecke (0/9/0); Serbia: YU56 Šar Planina Mt., Daganović, Straska Reka below Straza, 850 m a.s.l., QC 14 72, 07.vi.1991 Gerecke (0/1/0) .

Aturus barbatulus K. Viets, 1936

Records from the study area: Macedonia: K. Viets (1936).

Habitat: Crenophilous.

Distribution: Southern Europe, Iran.

Aturus brachypus K. Viets, 1936

Records from the study area: Macedonia: K. Viets (1936).

Habitat: Crenophilous.

Distribution: Central-southern Europe, British Isles.

Aturus crinitus Thor, 1902

New records: Croatia: Plitvice lakes area, Labudovac barrier, 28.vii.2007 Mičetić (2/1/0); ibid., 30.vi.2007 Mičetić (1/3/0); Plitvice lakes area, Plitvice stream, 29.iv.2007 Mičetić (1/0/0); Plitvice lakes area, Novakovića Brod , 503 m a.s.l., 28.viii.2007 Mičetić (1/3/0); Bosnia and Hercegovina : YU3 Ranca Planina Mt. , Donji Korićani , River Ugar near Vlalkovići , 500 m a.s.l., 45°50'N 17°40'W, 26.v.1990 Gerecke (3/12/0); YU15 Trebinje , Lastva , Nudoljska Rijeka , 550 m a.s.l., 42°47'N 16°10'W, 02.vi.1990 (1/0/0); YU44 Olovo , Rijeka Krivaja near Boganovići , 500 m a.s.l., CP 04 90, 14.vi.1990 Gerecke (2/1/0); Montenegro: YU32 Bjelasica Mt. , stream upstream Lubnice , 1300 m a.s.l., 42°40'N 17°23'W, 08.vi.1990 Gerecke (0/1/0); Podgorica region , stream in canyon of river Mrtvica , 42°43'N 19°21'E Pešić (0/1/0); River Mrtvica near village Velje Duboko , 05.ix.1999 Pešić (0/0/1); Podgorica , river Cijevna near village Dinoša , 97 m a.s.l., 42°23'59.48''N 19°21'56.26''E, 01.vii.2000 Pešić (0/2/0); Skadar Lake area , Crmnica , spring in village Trnovo , 11.iv.1997 Karanović (0/1/0); Macedonia: YU50 Osogovska Planina Mt. , Kiseliza , Trnovska Reka , 800 m a.s.l., QD 53 26, 05.vi.1991 Gerecke (1/8/0); YU51 Jakupica Planina Mt. , Patiska R. stream South of village, 1000 m a.s.l., QH 62 82, 05.vi.1991 Gerecke (0/3/1); Greece: GR48 Makedonia, Vrondús, Sidirókastron. Krousovitis Potamos, 180 m a.s.l., QK 32 09, 02.vi.1991 Gerecke (1/0/0) .

Records from the study area: Croatia: K. Viets (1936), Pešić (2002f); Bosnia and Hercegovina: Motaş et al. (1948), Pešić (2003h); Montenegro: Pešić (1999); Serbia: Pešić (2003e), Pešić & Panesar (2009); Macedonia: Schwoerbel (1963); Bulgaria: K. Viets (1926), Arndt (1943), Petrova (1971).

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Europe except Fennoscandia.

Aturus gordani Pešić, 2003

Records from the study area: Bosnia and Hercegovina: Pešić (2003h).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Balkan, known only from the locus typicus (interstitial of the Sokočnica river in the western part of Bosnia and Hercegovina).

Aturus fontinalis Lundblad, 1920

New records: Macedonia: YU53 Šar Planina Mt., Popova Šapka, uppermost parts, exp. E, 2000 m a.s.l., 42°00'N 20°22'W, 06.vi.1991 Gerecke (0/1/0) .

Records from the study area: Montenegro: Pešić (2004a); Bulgaria: Petrova (1976a).

Remarks: New for Macedonia.

Habitat: Crenophilous rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Central Europe, Balkan.

Aturus intermedius Protz, 1900

New records: Montenegro: Komovi Mt., small stream near village Opasanica, 1180 m a.s.l., 42°40'52.63''N 19°33'01.64''E, vi.2005 Pešić (1/0/0) .

Records from the study area: Croatia: Pešić (2002f); Serbia: Pešić (2003e).

Remarks: New for Montenegro.

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Europe.

Aturus karamani K. Viets, 1936

Records from the study area: Croatia: K. Viets (1936), Pešić (2002f); Serbia: Pešić (2003e).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Central and south-eastern Europe.

Aturus natangensis Protz, 1900

New records: Bulgaria: Sofia, Iskar River below Gorubliane (Sofia), interstitial, 579 m a.s.l., 42 о 37'360"N 23 о 24'960"E, 13.viii.2004, Kenderov (1/0/0) .

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1976a).

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Europe.

Aturus paucisetus Motaş & Tanasachi, 1946

New records: Bulgaria: River Iskar above Samokov town, interstitial, 1005 m a.s.l., 42 о 17'468''N 23 о 22'221''E, 02.v.2004 Kenderov (1/0/0).

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1968b, 1971).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Balkan, Romania, France, Germany.

Aturus scaber Kramer, 1875

New records: Bosnia and Hercegovina: YU4 Željeznica between Fojnica and Bakovići (Ključ), 550 m a.s.l., YJ 34 69, 27.v.1990 Gerecke (2/2/0); YU6 Željeznica, SW Oštra Glava upper stream near road to Dušina, 700 m a.s.l., YJ 36 62, 28.v.1990 Gerecke (1/1/0); YU15 Trebinje, Lastva, Nudoljska Rijeka, 550 m a.s.l., 42°47'N 16°10'W, 02.vi.1990 Gerecke (0/1/0); YU44 Olovo, Rijeka Krivaja near Boganovići, 500 m a.s.l., CP 04 90, 14.vi.1990 Gerecke (0/1/0); Montenegro: Danilovgrad, River Zeta near Spuž, 41 m a.s.l., 42°30'39.63''N 19°11'52.99''E, 14.vii.2001 Pešić (1/1/0); Podgorica, river Cijevna near village Dinoša, 97 m a.s.l., 42°23'59.48''N 19°21'56.26''E, 01.vii.2000 Pešić (2/3/0); Macedonia: YU52 Jakupica Planina Mt. , Patiska R., stream N of the village, 900 m a.s.l., QH 62 84, 05.vi.1991 Gerecke (0/1/0); Bulgaria: BU7 Blagoevgrad, Pirin , Dobriniste , stream near refuges "Goce Delčev", 1200 m a.s.l., QK 52 62, 03.vi.1991 Gerecke (1/1/0); Greece: GR12 Epiros, Xerovuni , Plaka , Arachthos downstream Agnanta , 200 m a.s.l., QS 15 24, 21.v.1991 Gerecke (0/1/0); GR28 Makedonia, Vernon , affl. Aliakmon between Gavros and Aposkepos, 450 m a.s.l., 40°39'N 21°11'E, 26.v.1991 Gerecke (0/2/0); GR74 Achaia , Aroánia , Kato Zachlorou , Vouraikos at railway station, 400 m a.s.l., 38°10'N 22°14'E, 05.vi.1992 Gerecke (0/3/0) .

Records from the study area: Croatia: Schwoerbel (1963), Pešić (2002f); Bosnia and Hercegovina: Motaş et al. (1948), Schwoerbel (1963); Montenegro: Pešić (1999); Serbia: Živić et al. (2002), Pešić (2003e); Macedonia: Schwoerbel (1963); Bulgaria: K. Viets (1926), Arndt (1943), Petrova (1971), Scheffler (1974), Pešić (2006).

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Western Palaearctic.

Aturus serratus K.Viets, 1922

New records: Croatia: Plitvice lakes area, stream Crna Rijeka, 21.ix.2007 Mičetić (1/0/0).

Records from the study area: Croatia: “ A. asserculatus serratus “ K. Viets (1936) , Pešić (2002f); Montenegro: Pešić (1999).

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Europe.

Aturus spatulifer Piersig, 1904

New records: Bulgaria: Bu flö130 Pirin, stream at the lowermost lake Vlachinsko, 2290 m a.s.l., 12.viii.1966 Flöβner (1/13/0).

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1976a).

Remark: In the male from BU flö130, the dorsal bifurcate setae are more delicate than typical for this species.

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Central Europe, Balkan.

Genus Kongsbergia Thor, 1899

Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) alata Szalay, 1945

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1965, 1971).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Central and SE Europe.

Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) clypeata Szalay, 1945

New records: Montenegro: Danilovgrad, River Zeta near Spuž, interstitial, 41 m a.s.l., 42°30'39.63''N 19°11'52.99''E, 15.viii.1998 Pešić (1/0/0); Podgorica, river Morača, interstitial, 35 m a.s.l., 42°27'56.53''N 19°15'53.66''E, 18.vii.1999 Pešić (0/1/0); Durmitor , Mlinski potok - stream, interstitial, 24.viii.1995 Karanović (0/1/0); Bulgaria: Sofia area: Samokov , Iskar River below Vedena river , interstitial, 638 m a.s.l., 42 о 33'616"N 23 о 25'395"E, 13.viii.2004 Kenderov (2/0/1); Samokov , Vedena river , interstitial, 643 m a.s.l., 42 о 33'608"N 23 о 25'328"E, 27.xii.2003 Kenderov (2/4/2); ibid., 02.v.2004 Kenderov (0/2/1); ibid., 15.i.2005 Kenderov (2/1/0) .

Records from the study area: Montenegro: Pešić (1999); Bulgaria: Petrova (1968b, 1971).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Europe except Scandinavia and British isles.

Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) dentata dentata Walter, 1947

New records: Bosnia and Hercegovina : YU15 Trebinje , Lastva, Nudoljska Rijeka, 550 m a.s.l., 42°47'N 16°10'W, 02.vi.1990 Gerecke (1/0/0) .

Records from the study area: Montenegro: Pešić (2003a, 2004b); Bulgaria: Petrova (1968b, 1971).

Remarks: New for Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Central and south-eastern Europe.

Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) d-motasi Motaş & Tanasachi, 1958

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1976a).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Romania, Bulgaria.

Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) largaiollii (Maglio, 1909)

Records from the study area: Montenegro: Pešić (2003a, 2004b).

Habitat: Rhitrobiont, crenophilous.

Distribution: Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Montenegro.

Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) lundbladi Szalay, 1956

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1976a).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Hungary, Bulgaria.

Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) materna Thor, 1899

New records: New records: Croatia: Plitvice lakes area, Novakovića Brod, 503 m a.s.l., 28.viii.2007 Mičetić (1/0/0).

Records from the study area: Croatia: K. Viets (1936), Pešić (2002f).

Habitat; Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Palaearctic.

Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) pectinigera Motaş & Tanasachi, 1946

New records: Bosnia and Hercegovina: YU43 Jahorina Mt., W from Bare, Rijeka Čemernica , 1000 m a.s.l., 43°46'N 16°30'W, 14.vi.1990 Gerecke (0/1/0); Bulgaria, Sofia region, Cherni Iskar River , interstitial, 1012 m a.s.l., 42°17’'23''N 23°31'997''E, 16.viii.2004 Kenderov (1/0/0) .

Records from the study area: Bosnia and Hercegovina: “ K. pectinigera sinuosa “ Motaş et al. (1948) ; Bulgaria: Cvetkov & Petrova (1965); Petrova (1968b, 1971).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Central and south-eastern Europe.

Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) ruttneri Walter, 1930

New records: Bulgaria: Samokov, Iskar River below Vedena river, interstitial, 638 m a.s.l., 42 о 33'616"N 23 о 25'395"E, 15.i.2005 Kenderov (1/1/0).

Remarks: New for Bulgaria.

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Central and south-eastern Europe.

Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) cf. simillima Viets, 1949

New records: Bosnia and Hercegovina : YU15 Trebinje , Lastva, Nudoljska Rijeka, 550 m a.sl., 42°47' N 16°10'W, 02.vi.1990 Gerecke (1/0/0) .

Remarks: New for Balkan.

Habitat: Middle-order streams.

Distribution: Previously only known from the Pyrenees. This record needs verification by variability studies on more specimens from both, the type locality and the Balkan.

Kongsbergia (Parakongsbergia) hansvietsi K. Viets, 1949

Records from the study area: Macedonia: K. Viets (1949).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Balkan, only known from the type locality (interstitial waters of the Vardar river near Skoplje).

Subfamily Axonopsinae K. Viets, 1929

Genus Albaxona Szalay, 1944

Albaxona lundbladi Motaş & Tanasachi, 1947

New records: Bosnia and Hercegovina : YU43 Jahorina Mt. , W from Bare, Rijeka Čemernica, 1000 m a.s.l., 43°46'N 16°30'W, 14.vi.1990 Gerecke (0/2/0) .

Records from the study area: Montenegro: “ A. gracilis “ Pešić (2003g) , Pešić & Gerecke (2003); Serbia: Pešić & Gerecke (2003); Bulgaria: “ Vietsaxona lundbladi “ Petrova (1968b, 1971 ).

Remarks: New for Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Central-Southern Europe, British Isles.

Albaxona minuta Szalay, 1944

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1968b, 1971).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Eastern Balkan, the Carpathians, Spain.

Genus Axonopsis Piersig, 1893 Records not classified to species level from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1965).

Axonopsis (Axonopsis) complanata (Müller, 1776)

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1976a).

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Europe.

Axonopsis (Axonopsis) graeca Pešić & Smit sp. nov.

( Fig. 13 )

Material examined. Holotype ( ZMAN): female, dissected and slide-mounted in Hoyer's fluid. Greece: GR90 Lesbos, stream Mylopotamos, 06.v.2000, leg. Smit.

Diagnosis. Dorsal furrow on each side with two longish glandular platelets and three slit organs; the glandular platelets lying close to each other in the posterior part of the furrow, the anterior two slit organs free in the anterior and posterior sections, respectively, the third one fused to the posterior margin of the anterior glandular platelet; ventral margin of P-4 with two setae in the anterior half, one long and one short.

Description

Female: dorsal and ventral shields anteriorly fused; dorsal shield ( Fig. 13A ) L/W 384/313 bearing the terminal excretory pore and four pairs of glandularia (the fourth pair flanking the excretory pore); dorsal furrow on each side bearing from anterior to posterior: one slit organ in the anterior third, a second one shortly posterior to the centre, a longish platelet formed by the fusion of a glandularium with a slit organ, and a further longish glandularium platelet; colour pattern consisting of anterior and posterior purplish patches; ventral shield ( Fig. 13B ) (including genital field) L/W 413/344, capitular bay L 132; a well developed ridge present on each side extending posteriorly from the region of IV-L insertion; suture line of genital field distinctly set off from the remainder of the ventral shield; four pairs of Ac arranged as two anterior and two posterior pairs, distance between outer edges of most lateral Ac 144; a pair of slit organs and a pair of seta-bearing platelets lying in the soft integument posterior to the ventral shield. Palp ( Figs. 13C–D ) total L 231, L and %L (in parentheses): P-1, 26 (11.3); P-2, 55 (23.8); P-3, 30 (13.0); P-4, 88 (38.1); P-5, 32 (13.9); L ratio P-2/P-4, 0.63; P-2 ventral margin slightly concave, distally ending in a weakly pointed tip; ventral margin of P-4 with two setae inserting side by side in the anterior half of the segment, a long lateral one and a short medial one; capitulum ventral L 112; chelicera total L 105. Leg swimming setae numbers: III-L-4, 2, III-L-5, 4, IV-L-4, 3, IV-L-5, 4.

Male: Unknown.

Etymology. Named after the country of the type locality.

Discussion. In the Western Palaearctic the subgenus Axonopsis is represented only by the widely distributed limnic species Axonopsis complanata . The new species differs from all other members of the subgenus in the combination of: (1) presence of a slit–organ on each side in the anterior dorsal furrow, (2) third pair of slitorgans fused with anterior pair of glandularium platelets in the dorsal furrow and (3) presence of one long and one short setae on the ventral margin of P-4.

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Lesbos.

Axonopsis (Brachypodopsis) gracilis (Piersig, 1903)

New records: Bulgaria: Sofia region, Cherni Iskar River, interstitial, 1012 m a.s.l., 42 о 17'123''N 23 о 31'997''E, 16.viii.2005 Kenderov (0/0/4); Bulgaria: River Iskar above Samokov, interstitial, 1005 m a.s.l., 42 о 17'468''N 23 о 22'221''E, 02.v.2004 Kenderov (4/14/1); ibid., 16.viii.2005 Kenderov (0/2/0); ibid., 26.xi.2005 Kenderov (0/1/1).

Records from the study area: Croatia: K. Viets (1936), Pešić (2002f); Bosnia and Hercegovina: Motaş et al. (1948); Montenegro: Pešić (2003a, 2004b); Serbia: Pešić (2003e); Macedonia: K. Viets (1936), Schwoerbel (1963), Pešić & Gerecke (2003); Bulgaria: Cvetkov & Petrova (1965), Petrova (1965, 1971), Pešić (2006).

Habitat: Lenitobiont, hyporheophil.

Distribution: Europe.

Axonopsis (Brachypodopsis) guadarramensis Valdecasas, 1981

Records from the study area: Greece: Pešić & Gerecke (2003).

Habitat: Crenophilous rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Spain, Greece.

Axonopsis (Brachypodopsis) inferorum Motaş & Tanasachi, 1947

Records from the study area: Montenegro: Pešić & Gerecke (2003), Pešić (2004b); Bulgaria: Petrova (1976a).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont, occasionally found in rheocrenic springs.

Distribution: Romania, France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Balkan.

Axonopsis (Brachypodopsis) orghidani Petrova, 1968

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1968 a, 1968b, 1971).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Balkan, known only from the locus typicus (interstitial of river Veleka in E Bulgaria).

Axonopsis (Hexaxonopsis) romijni K.Viets, 1923

Records from the study area: Greece: K. Viets (1950).

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Europe.

Axonopsis (Hexaxonopsis) serrata Walter, 1928

New records: Greece: GR 90 Lesbos, stream Mylopotamos, 06.v.2000 Smit (1/4/0).

Records from the study area: Croatia: Schwoerbel (1963), Pešić (2002f); Montenegro: Pešić (1999, 2002c), Baker et al. (2008); Bulgaria: Petrova (1971).

Rejected records: Bulgaria: Petrova (1968b) — Pešić & Gerecke (2003).

Remarks: New for Greece.

Habitat: Lenitobiont.

Distribution: Central and southern part of the Western Palaearctic.

Axonopsis (Paraxonopsis) vietsi Motaş & Tanasachi, 1947

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1968b, 1971).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: France, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Balkan.

Axonopsis (Vicinaxonopsis) bureschi Petrova, 1976 Records from the study area: Bulgaria: “ A. (Hexaxonopsis) bureschi ” Petrova (1976b) .

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Balkan, known only from the interstitial habitat of the rivers Mladejka and Veleka in E Bulgaria.

Genus Barbaxonella Lundblad, 1954

New records of undetermined specimens: Greece: GR95 Lesbos, Potami River, upper west branch, 03.v.2000 Smit (0/1/0).

Remarks: First record of the genus from Greece.

Barbaxonella angulata (K.Viets, 1955)

Records from the study area: Bulgaria: Petrova (1968b, 1971).

Habitat: Hyporheobiont.

Distribution: Balkan, Central Europe, Great Britain.

Genus Brachypoda Lebert, 1879

Brachypoda (Brachypoda) versicolor (Müller, 1776)

Records from the study area: Montenegro: Thon (1903), Musselius (1912), K. Viets (1936), Pešić (2002c), Baker et al. (2008); Albania: Pešić (2003i); Macedonia: Stanković (1931), K. Viets (1936), Besseling (1957), Georgiev (1957), Pešić (2003j), Baker et al. (2008); Bulgaria: K. Viets (1935b), Valkanov (1957), Petrova (1971).

Habitat: Lenitobiont; mostly restricted to larger pools and lakes.

Distribution: Palaearctic.

Brachypoda (Parabrachypoda) montii Maglio, 1924

New records: Greece: GR 89 Lesbos, stream Evergetoulas, 02.v.2000 Smit (1/6/0).

Remarks: New for Greece.

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Europe.

Brachypoda (Hemibrachypoda) mutila (Walter, 1928)

New records: Greece: GR46 Makedonia, Nestos, lower reaches downstream Stavroupolis, 60 m a.s.l., RL 36 93, 31.v.1991 Gerecke (0/1/0).

Remarks: New for Greece.

Habitat: Low-order streams.

Distribution: Mediterranean.

Genus Ljania Thor, 1898

Ljania bipapillata Thor, 1898

New records: Bosnia and Hercegovina: YU44 Olovo , Rijeka Krivaja near Boganovići , 500 m a.s.l., CP 04 90, 14.06.1990 Gerecke (0/1/0); Croatia: Plitvice lakes area, stream Crna Rijeka , 27.viii.2007 Mičetić (0/1/0); Greece: GR29 Makedonia, Vernon , Pisoderion , affluent Ladopotamós , 1200 m a.s.l., 40°47'N 21°14'E, 26.v.1991 Gerecke (0/1/0); GR70 Achaia , Aroánia , Planiteron. Rheocrene near Mazi , 1200 m a.s.l., 37°54'N 22°17'E, 02.vi.1992 Gerecke (2/6/0); GR74 Achaia , Aroánia , Kato Zachlorou , river Vouraikos near railway station, 400 m a.s.l., 38°10'N 22°'14'E, 05.vi.1992 Gerecke (1/0/0); GR7p Evia Island , the region of Ochi , stream Gefira Dimosaris, downstream between Kalergo and Kallianos village, 30.vi.2007 Pešić (1/0/0) .

Records from the study area: Croatia: K. Viets (1936), Pešić (2002f); Bulgaria: Pešić (2006).

Remarks: New for Greece.

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Europe.

Ljania macilenta Koenike, 1908

New records: Greece: GR60 Achaia, Erymanthos, Ano Vlassia, riparian spring at stream Selinous, 1000 m a.s.l., 37°57'N 21°47'E, 25.v.1992 Gerecke (0/2/0); Montenegro: Komovi Mt., Šupački stream near village Opasanica, 1180 m a.s.l., 42°40'52,63"N 19°33'01,64"E, 09.vi.2001 Pešić (1/1/1); Bulgaria: Samokov, Iskar River below Vedena river, interstitial, 638 m a.s.l., 42 о 33'616"N 23 о 25'395"E, 13.viii.2004 Kenderov (0/1/0). Records from the study area: Bosnia and Hercegovina: Pešić (2003h); Montenegro: Pešić (1999); Serbia: Pešić (2003e); Macedonia: Georgiev (1957), Baker et al. (2008); Bulgaria: Petrova (1968b, 1971), Scheffler (1974).

Remarks: New for Greece.

Habitat: Rhitrobiont, hyporheophil.

Distribution: Central and south-eastern Europe.

Genus Woolastookia Habeeb, 1954

Woolastookia rotundifrons (K.Viets, 1922)

New records: Bosnia and Hercegovina: YU15 Trebinje, Lastva, Nudoljska Rijeka, 550 m a.s.l., 42°47'N 16°10'W, 02.vi.1990 Gerecke (0/1/0); YU3 Ranca Planina Mt. , Donji Korićani, River Ugar near Vlalkovići, 500 m a.s.l., 45°50'N 17°40'W, 26.vi.1990 Gerecke (0/1/0); Montenegro: YU32 Bjelasica Mt. , brook upstream Lubnice , 1300 m a.s.l., 42°40'N 17°23'W, 08.vi.1990 Gerecke (2/5/0); Podgorica , river Cijevna near village Dinoša , 97 m a.s.l., 42°23'59.48''N 19°21'56.26''E, 01.vii.2000 Pešić (1/0/0); upper part of Morača River near Dragovića Polje , 42°51'N 19°15'E, 26.x.2004 Pešić (1/1/0); Kolašin , stream Bistrica near village Crkvine , 1122 m a.s.l., 42°48'N 19°27'E, 15.ix.2004 Pešić (3/1/0); Podgorica , River Cijevna near Šumice , 42°25'N 19°27'E, 19.viii.2004 Pešić (1/1/0); Štitarička River , between Mojkovac and Kolašin, 42 о 55'N 19 о 33'E, 23.vii.2001 Pešić (2/0/0); Greece: Lesbos : stream Tsiknias , NW of Agia Paraskevi, 29.iv.2000 Smit (0/40/0); stream Mylopotamos , 06.v.2000 Smit (0/116/0); stream Revna Agiou Ioann, 11.v.2000 Smit (0/3/0) .

Records from the study area: Montenegro: “ Axonopsis rotundifrons “ Pešić (1999) ; Serbia: Pešić (2003e); Macedonia: Pešić (2005); Bulgaria: “ Axonopsis rotundifrons “ Petrova (1968b, 1971 ).

Remarks: New for Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro and Greece.

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution: Central Europe, Balkan, Turkey.

Woolastookia minuta Pešić, Gerecke & Smit sp. nov.

( Fig. 15 )

Material examined. Holotype ( NHMB): male, dissected and slide-mounted in Hoyer's fluid. YU43 : Bosnia and Hercegovina : Jahorina Mt., W Bare, Rijeka Čemernica, 1000 m a.s.l., 43°46'N 16°30'W, 14.vi.1990, leg. Gerecke; paratypes: three males, Greece: GR90 Lesbos, stream Mylopotamos, 06.v.2000, leg. Smit.

Compared material. Specimens of Woolastookia rotundifrons , from the type locality area ( Germany, Harz, coll. K.O. Viets, SMF) .

Diagnosis. Small in dimensions (idiosoma L <450); a ridge extending posterior from IV-L insertions short; leg claws without dorsal clawlet and ventral clawlet reduced to a small denticle; P-2 ventral margin slightly concave; palp (P-4 L/H 2.6-3.0) and IV-L (L/H IV-L-5, 2.7–2.8, IV-L-6, 2.0–2.6) stout.

Description

Male (holotype, in parentheses measurements of the specimens from Lesbos): Idiosoma L/W 443/350 (391–428/267–298); dorsal and ventral shields present; dorsal shield L/W 443/309 (417/269); a small platelet surrounding the excretory pore and a pair of glandularia are present at posterior end of the ventrum; three pairs of Ac, arranged in a triangle; distance between outer edges of lateralmost pair of Ac 161 (124).

Palp ( Fig. 15B ): palp total L 233 (222–224), L: P-1, 36 (35–36); P-2, 56 (56); P-3, 29 (29); P-4, 77 (70– 71); P-5, 35 (32); %L: P-1, 15.5 (15.8–16.1); P-2, 24.0 (25.0–25.2); P-3, 12.5 (13.0–13.1); P-4, 33.0 (31.5– 31.7); P-5, 15.0 (14.3–14.4); L ratio P-2/P-4, 0.73 (0.79–0.80); P-2 ventral margin slightly concave, distally ending in a weakly pointed tip; P-4 stout (L/H ratio 2.6–3.0); capitulum ventral L 97 (92–94); chelicera total L 108 (99). L of IV-L-1-5 ( Figs. 15C, E ): 74 (71–76), 51 (49–50), 68 (62–63), 75 (71–73), 102 (94–95), 89 (74– 76), L/H ratio IV-L-5, 2,7–2,8, IV-L-6, 2.0–2.6; swimming setae numbers: II-L-5, 2–3, III-L-5, 3–4, IV-L-5, 3.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology. Name referring to the small dimensions of this species.

Discussion. In the Western Palaearctic the genus Woolastookia was so far represented only by W. rotundifrons , a species widely distributed in Central Europe and the Balkans. Woolastookia rotundifrons (see Fig. 14 ) differs from W. minuta in major idiosoma dimensions, more pronounced and longer ridge extending posterior from IV-L insertions, leg claws with well developed dorsal and ventral clawlets (the latter about 50 % claw L), a P-2 with more strongly concave ventral margin and a more pronounced ventrodistal edge, and more slender palp (P-4 L/H> 3.5) and IV-L segments (L/H IV-L-5 3.2, IV-L-6 3.1).

The specimens from Lesbos differ from the holotype in much more pronounced ridge extending posterior from IV-L insertions and a traces of genital field delimitation, a slightly minor idiosoma and palp dimensions and a more slender P-4 (L/H 3.0 vs. 2.6 in the holotype). In view of the good agreement in proportions these differences are most probably age-depending and/or due to geographical variability.

According to Cook (1974) the members of the genus Woolastookia are characterized by the presence of one of the claws of fourth leg being much larger in the male. The males of the both so far known Woolastookia spp. from Europe have claws of fourth leg similar in dimensions. To address the interesting question on the transatlantic diversification of the Woolastookia species , additional studies are necessary.

Habitat: Rhitrobiont.

Distribution. Balkan, only known from the type localities in Bosnia and Hercegovina and Lesbos.

Figures

FIGURE 13A–D. Axonopsis graeca sp. nov., female: A = idiosoma, dorsal view; B = idiosoma, ventral view; C = capitulum and palp; D = palp. Scale bars = 100 µm.

FIGURE 14A–C. Woolastokia rotundifrons (K.Viets, 1922), male, Harz, Germany: A = idiosoma, ventral view; B = palp; C = IV–L. Scale bars = 100 µm.

FIGURE 15A–E. Woolastokia minuta sp. nov., male holotype: A = idiosoma, ventral view; B = palp and gnathosoma; C = IV-L, anterior view; D = IV-L, posterior view; E = claw; Scale bars = 100 µm.