Monatractides madritensis ( K. Viets, 1930 )

Sabatino, Antonio Di, Gerecke, Reinhard, Gledhill, Terence & Smit, Harry, 2009, On the taxonomy of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) described from the Palaearctic, part 2: Hydryphantoidea and Lebertioidea, Zootaxa 2266, pp. 1-34 : 25

Monatractides madritensis ( K. Viets, 1930)

Torrenticola bicincta Láska 1933 , nov. syn.

Torrenticola parvipalpis Halbert, 1944 , nov. syn.

Torrenticola robusta Halbert, 1944 , nov. syn.

Torrenticola (Monatractides) hibernica Conroy, 1984 , nov. syn.

Material examined: Torrenticola robusta , Holotype "Ƥ ", Museum Dublin, Ireland.

Discussion: Halbert (1944) described T. parvipalpis and T. robusta from material collected in the River Flesk and River Clydagh ( Ireland). The holotype male of T. parvipalpis is lost, the male of T. robusta still unknown. Successively, K.O. Viets (1958) synonymized both species with M. madritensis , but Gledhill & K.O. Viets (1976) considered both as species incertae, while K.O. Viets (1978) reported T. robusta as an uncertain species, but T. parvipalpis as a possible synonym of M. madritensis . Finally, Conroy (1984) described T. (Monatractides) hibernica as a new species being close to M. madritensis and M. bicincta Láska (see below). He also concluded that T. parvipalpis should be a junior synonym of T. robusta which in turn was quite different from both M. madritensis and T. hibernica . As can be deduced from dimensional values and idiosoma morphology in the original description of T. hibernica, Conroy was confused by erroneously establishing a female as the male holotype. Since then, this species has not attracted any more attention and was overlooked in the world water mite catalogue of K.O. Viets (1987).

In view of the unique character combination (shape and dimensions of genital field, medial length of suture line of Cx-II+III; palp morphology and length of ventral seta on P-4) shared by all of them, we consider T. parvipalpis , T. robusta and T. hibernica junior synonyms of M. madritensis .

For T. bicincta Láska 1953 , the presence of a ring of small sclerotized platelets between the dorsal and ventral shield was defined as the only diagnostic feature. Such platelets are probably present in all species of the family, more or less well visible depending on age and sclerotization and present also in M. madritensis . As no further differences can be found, we consider T. bicincta a junior synonym of M. madritensis .