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 : 332

ATRACTIDES SCUTATUS ( LUNDBLAD, 1925)

Megapus lacustris scutatus Lundblad, 1925

Syn. to A. lacustris ( Lundblad, 1925) : Besseling, 1954

Type series: Holotype ♂ SMNH 771 , labelled as paratype ♀ of A. lacustris … 771 Typ (242). State of conservation: good, dorsum/ventrum separate, gnathosoma separate, lateral, both I-L separate, Gsk isolated, anterior.

Discussion: The holotype of this taxon was collected together with the paratype female of A. lacustris . Lundblad introduced the name of this ‘variatio’ in view of the dorsal sclerotization, strongly extended compared with that of A. lacustris . The whole set of idiosoma and gnathosoma measurements agrees without any notable deviation with the values given for the holotype male of that species. This observation supports the viewpoint of Besseling (1954), who suggested after studying specimens from the Netherlands that the differences in dorsal sclerotization be considered as resulting from individual variability. Lundblad (1962) accepted this proposal.

ATRACTIDES LONGIROSTRIS ( WALTER, 1925)

( FIG. 87A–G )

Megapus longirostris Walter, 1925

Type series: Holotype ♀, NHMB Megapus longirostris Walter ♀ ov. Algerien 15.4.1924 coll. Gauthier; Typus; leg. Gauthier, Algérie. Oued Bou Saâda 15.IV.1924; XIII/42. Overpasted label: Pr. 1942 Typ. ♀ ov. State of conservation: good, due to folding of integument genital field in oblique position; right I-L and gnathosoma (with all appendages detached) separate.

Material examined: ♂ NHMB Megapus longirostris ♂ Walt. Nord-Afrika 14.9.25 Coll. Gauthier 15. XXIX/19 (collecting site Oued Boudouaou , en aval de l’Alma ( Alger), 14 septembre 1925; Walter, 1928b). State of conservation: only idiosoma, left I-III-L and right I-L-5 and -6 absent, partly desiccated (probably, as usual in coll. Walter, a further slide existed bearing I-L and mouthparts, now lost) ; ♂ SMNH 3136 Allotyp; Megapus longirostris Walt . ♂ Algeriet El Kantara 4.4.1931 leg. G. Notini. Not part of the type series, mounting medium with numerous droplets hampering detailed view, genital field and mouthparts in oblique position, measurements impossible .

Description:

General features dorsal integument: striated (7/10); muscle attachments: smooth coxal field: sexual dimorphism?

I-L: setae S-1/2 distanced, S-1 with roundish, S-2 with pointed tip excretory pore: smooth – sexual dimorphism?; Vgl-1: fused with Vgl-2

palp: slender, P-4 sword seta hair-like, ventral margin 2: 1: 1, P-5 with cheeks

Males

SMNH 3136, measurements in parentheses from Lundblad (1942b):

genital field: with weakly indented anterior, and more deeply indented posterior margin; genital setae: 42

palp: P-4 thickened, with strongly convex dorsal margin

Figures

Figure 87. Atractides longirostris. A, C–F holotype ♀ NHMB; B; G, ♂, Algeria (uncertain attribution) SMNH 3136. A, ♀ coxal field; B, ♂ mediocaudal margin of Cx-1 + 2; C, ♀ palp, medial view; D, ♀ chelicera; E, ♀ gnathosoma lateral view; F, ♀ I-L-5 and -6; G, ♂ I-L-5 and -6 partial view. Scale bars = 100 µm.