Atractides

Gerecke, Reinhard, 2003, Water mites of the genus Atractides Koch, 1837 (Acari: Parasitengona: Hygrobatidae) in the western Palaearctic region: a revision, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 138, pp. 141-378 : 248-249

ATRACTIDES OBOVALIS ( SZALAY, 1946)

Megapus subterraneus obovalis Szalay, 1946

Syn. to A. subterraneus (K. Viets, 1932) : syn. nov.

Type series: Missing. Locus typicus: Romania Barátka-Bratcuta (Kom. Bihar) Quelle beim Zusammenfluss des Flusses Sebes-Körös (Crisul-Repede) mit dem Bach Barátka (Bratcuta) 16.08.1942, 1 ♀ von Dr. A. Chappuis gesammelt .

Discussion: The name ‘ obovalis ’ was introduced for a specimen that differs from the original description nearly exclusively in slightly larger idiosomal dimensions. From Szalay’s palp measurements, P-2 seems to be distinctly shorter than P-3 (L ratio 40/49 Mm) but in his figure they are nearly equal. The lower number of dorsal setae on P-2 and -3 is probably an artefact. The long, pen-like palp setae are easily lost in these fragile subterranean mites. I-L-5/6 (dL 135/123, ratio 1.10) are slightly longer than in the specimens of A. subterraneus from Macedonia (116/112, ratio 1.04) but such differences in size can be expected within the limits of intraspecific variability, and the L ratio of the two segments is rather similar in both specimens. The slightly concave shape of the ventral margin of I-L-6 is found equally in A. subterraneus . Since the first description, A. subterraneus obovalis has been recorded once by Motaş & Tanasachi (1948: numerous males and females from the area of Brasov, Romania) who regarded the distinctive features of this taxon to be of very low importance, and did not bother with a description and discussion of the unknown male morphology. Since then, the name has appeared only in comprehensive lists of local and national faunas. There is no morphological evidence that would contradict synonymizing this ‘variety’ with the stem species.