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A new species, Oregonacarus secundus Zhan & Guo sp. nov., is described, representing the second species of Oregonacarus I.M. Smith, 1989 (Bandakiopsidae Panesar 2004) and the first record of this genus and family for the Chinese fauna. The new species was described and illustrated with the combination of standard microscopy, photomicroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species, Parathyas pingwuensis Zhong & Guo sp. nov. and Parathyas qilianensis Zhong & Guo sp. nov., were described and illustrated in detail as new species to science, which represent a new recorded genus of Euthyadinae K. Viets, 1931 for the Chinese water mite fauna, and were collected from Wanglang National Natural Reserve, Pingwu County, Sichuan Province and Qilian Mountain, Qinghai Province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water mites of the genus Teutonia Koenike, 1889 are often common in cold montane lakes and pools of shaded streams and include the fastest swimmers among the water mites. This study provides the first-time calibrated phylogeny of this genus in Europe. Fossil-calibrated modelling reveals that the most recent common ancestor of the European Teutonia spp. originated in the Oligocene. Phylogenetic analyses show the presence of at least five species-level lineages within European teutoniid mites, with the T. corsicana-clade as the earliest branching lineage. We infer the origin of Teutonia corsicana at 29.0 million years ago, near the Eocene–Oligocene boundary, indicating that this species or its most recent ancestor was already present on the Corsica-Sardinia block when it broke off from the Iberian Peninsula. The remaining Teutonia clades are relatively younger and began their divergence in the early Miocene (ca. 21 million years ago) and continued with individual species throughout the Miocene. Finally, as a result of an integrative taxonomic approach, three species, i.e., T. lusitanicasp. nov., T. herminianasp. nov. and T. condeisp. nov. are described as new for science, and the presence of T. cometes is for the first time molecularly confirmed for Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, Panisopsis (Panisopsis) garzeensis Zhong & Guo sp. nov. and Trichothyas (Neothyas) arcuata Zhong & Guo sp. nov. are described and illustrated from China. Both species belong to the subfamily Euthyadinae K. Viets, 1931. Panisopsis (Panisopsis) garzeensis Zhong & Guo sp. nov. represents a new recorded genus and subgenus for Chinese water mite fauna. Meanwhile, the diagnosis of the subgenus Neothyas Lundblad, 1941 was revised according to the new species, Trichothyas (Neothyas) arcuata Zhong & Guo sp. nov. The LSID of the article: The LSID of the Panisopsis (Panisopsis) garzeensis Zhong & Guo sp. nov.: The LSID of the Trichothyas (Neothyas) arcuata Zhong & Guo sp. nov.: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrative taxonomic approach, combining new morphological data with the analysis of partial COI sequences (DNA-barcodes) is used to describe Lebertia litoralis Zawal & Szenejko sp. nov. from lake habitats in Poland and Norway. The obtained DNA-barcodes of Polish and Norwegian specimens differ only slightly (k = 4.142, Π = 0.006). Morphologically, the new species is most similar to Lebertia porosa Thor, 1900 and L. obscura Thor, 1900, from which it differs by a slenderer shape of the first leg and the position of the distoventral setae of p-4, inserted rather far away from the distal segment edge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a brief review on taxonomic studies of Chinese water mites since 2010, this paper gives a checklist of the 381 species in 53 genera, 25 subfamilies, 23 families and 7 superfamilies, recorded from China. 25 of these (6.56%) are Palaearctic-Oriental, 85 (22.31%) Palaearctic, 271 (71.13%) Oriental in their distributions, and 290 (76.12%) are known at present only from China. The information on distribution within China is given for each species. Arrenurus (Arrenurus) bilobatus Jin & Li, 1996 is replaced with Arrenurus (Arrenurus) leishanus nomen novum, and Arrenurus (Micruracarus) bipetiolatus Jin & Wiles, 1996 with Arrenurus (Micruracarus) yibinus nomen novum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a brief review on taxonomic studies of Chinese water mites since 2010, this paper gives a checklist of the 381 species in 53 genera, 25 subfamilies, 23 families and 7 superfamilies, recorded from China. 25 of these (6.56%) are Palaearctic-Oriental, 85 (22.31%) Palaearctic, 271 (71.13%) Oriental in their distributions, and 290 (76.12%) are known at present only from China. The information on distribution within China is given for each species. Arrenurus (Arrenurus) bilobatus Jin & Li, 1996 is replaced with Arrenurus (Arrenurus) leishanus nomen novum, and Arrenurus (Micruracarus) bipetiolatus Jin & Wiles, 1996 with Arrenurus (Micruracarus) yibinus nomen novum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new Clathrosperchon (Rhynchohydracaridae: Hydryphantoidea) species were described (Clathrosperchon nunesaesp. nov. and C. bitucaisp. nov.) and tabular and dichotoumous keys to the known Clathrosperchon species based on adults are provided. In addition, the phylogenetic placement of Rhynchohydracaridae was inferred using five molecular markers: COI, 18S, 28S, HSP70 and SRP54, testing previous hypothesis that the family may be more closely related to Neohydrachnidia than Hydryphantoidea due to larval characters. Our results recovered Rhynchohydracaridae nested among Lebertioidea, as sister group to Limnesiidae, and the traditional composition of Hydryphantoidea and Lebertioidea could be rejected based on AU-test. Given the larval characters and the recovered phylogenetic placement of the family, we propose that Rhynchohydracaridae must be included in Neohydrachnidia. This paper represents the first record of Hydrachnidia for the Minas Gerais State, Brazil, and is also the largest dataset of neotropical water mites included in a phylogenetic inference to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Microplastic pollution endangers both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Their spread across the food chain also endangers human health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be viewed as the final barrier between microplastics and the environment. In addition, it is well-known that water mites are abundant parasites in aquatic ecosystems, and nearly all insect orders with aquatic stages are considered potential hosts for at least one water mite species. However, no studies have been conducted to test the direct and indirect effects of parasites on population dynamics in freshwater ecosystems or the role of predators in shaping the behavior and life histories of aquatic organisms. Thus, this work aimed to study the seasonal abundance, distribution, composition, and risk assessment of MPs in surface water, aquatic insects (Coroxide and Notonectidae), and for the first time, water mites (Hydrachnidiae), as well as the effect of water mites’ parasitism on the number of MPs ingested by aquatic insects in two of the most polluted wastewater sites (S1 and S2) in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The two wastewater sites receive different wastewater inputs (domestic and industrial). The results showed that the MPs abundance in surface water was higher in S2 than in S1 during the four seasons of the year, where the microplastic abundance in surface water was 2.05 ± 0.79 and 3.01 ± 0.9 particles/L in S1 and S2, respectively. Also, MPs were significantly higher in S2 in two insect taxa (Corixidae and Notonectidae) that are known to be infected by water mites. In contrast, the number of MPs was lower in S1, where water mites were absent. In addition, our results showed that adult water mites accumulated MPs. Overall, the 500–2000 µm size range was the most prevalent for both wastewater sites. Fibers were the most common MP morphotype discovered, followed by fragments. The dominant colors of MP were blue, red, and black. Furthermore, FTIR spectroscopy revealed the existence of three distinct polymers, namely polyester (PES), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effect of water mites’ parasitism on the number of MPs ingested by aquatic organisms. However, Further research is needed to confirm our suggestion.

Microplastic pollution endangers both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Their spread across the food chain also endangers human health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be viewed as the final barrier between microplastics and the environment. In addition, it is well-known that water mites are abundant parasites in aquatic ecosystems, and nearly all insect orders with aquatic stages are considered potential hosts for at least one water mite species. However, no studies have been conducted to test the direct and indirect effects of parasites on population dynamics in freshwater ecosystems or the role of predators in shaping the behavior and life histories of aquatic organisms. Thus, this work aimed to study the seasonal abundance, distribution, composition, and risk assessment of MPs in surface water, aquatic insects (Coroxide and Notonectidae), and for the first time, water mites (Hydrachnidiae), as well as the effect of water mites' parasitism on the number of MPs ingested by aquatic insects in two of the most polluted wastewater sites (S1 and S2) in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The two wastewater sites receive different wastewater inputs (domestic and industrial). The results showed that the MPs abundance in surface water was higher in S2 than in S1 during the four seasons of the year, where the microplastic abundance in surface water was 2.05 ± 0.79 and 3.01 ± 0.9 particles/L in S1 and S2, respectively. Also, MPs were significantly higher in S2 in two insect taxa (Corixidae and Notonectidae) that are known to be infected by water mites. In contrast, the number of MPs was lower in S1, where water mites were absent. In addition, our results showed that adult water mites accumulated MPs. Overall, the 500–2000 µm size range was the most prevalent for both wastewater sites. Fibers were the most common MP morphotype discovered, followed by fragments. The dominant colors of MP were blue, red, and black. Furthermore, FTIR spectroscopy revealed the existence of three distinct polymers, namely polyester (PES), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effect of water mites' parasitism on the number of MPs ingested by aquatic organisms. However, Further research is needed to confirm our suggestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An illustrated description of a new species Atractides turkestanicus sp. nov. from the Turkestan Region of Kazakhstan is given. Diagnostic features of the new species include the following characters: integument smooth; genital plate with 23–24 fine setae on each side, anterior margin straight; excretory pore smooth; P-2 with moderately large ventrodistal protrusion; P-3 longer than P-2, with four thick dorsal setae; P-4 sword seta between ventral setae; I-Leg-5 S-1- S-2 separation 12 μm.

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Water mites are a diverse but neglected meiofaunal group in interstitial habitats. In this study, water mites were sampled from the hyporheic zone of the upper Neretva river catchment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In total, 10 obligate subterranean (hyporheobiontic) species were detected. Seven of them, i.e. Atractidespumilus (Szalay, 1946), Frontipodopsis reticulatifrons Szalay, 1945, Lethaxona pygmaea K. Viets, 1932, Paraxonopsis inferorum (Motaş and Tanasachi, 1947), P. vietsi (Motaş and Tanasachi, 1947), Erebaxonopsis brevipes Motaş and Tanasachi, 1947, and one halacarid species, Parasoldanellonyx typhlops K. Viets, 1933, were recorded for the first time for the fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first DNA barcoding data are provided for three families (Frontipodopsidae, Lethaxonidae, and Hungarohydracaridae), one subfamily (Stygomomoniinae), and 10 species, providing the first basis for a DNA barcode reference library of water mites from the interstitial habitats in South-Eastern Europe. In each of the four species, considered to have a wide Western Palaearctic distribution, i.e., A. pumilus, F. reticulatifrons, Hungarohydracarus subterraneaus, and Stygomomonia latipes, two separate lineages were distinguished. Fossil-calibrated modelling revealed that the diversification and speciation processes within the above-mentioned species started in the Late Miocene (7.3–11.8 Ma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Documentation on water mites in Spain is scarce, as is information on the parasite-host relationship between certain water mite species and representatives of the dipteran family Simuliidae. The discomfort caused to humans and animals by black flies seems to be increasing in recent years. In this context, an investigation of parasitic water mites is of great importance, not only from the point of view of biodiversity, but also in terms of their potential to control black fly populations. Methods Rivers across a wide region of eastern Spain were sampled to determine the specific richness of simuliid dipterans and to investigate their possible parasites, such as water mites, mermithid nematodes and microsporidia (fungal microbes). Data on environmental variables, abundance, prevalence and intensity of parasitism on the collected specimens were analyzed. Results In 10 streams, 15,396 simuliid pupae were collected and checked for the presence of water mite larvae; 426 pupae in seven streams were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Of the 21 simuliid species identified based on morphological characters, eight were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Water mite infection was not equally distributed among black fly species. Also, the prevalence of parasitism was low and differed among simuliid species, ranging from one to 13 water mites per black fly pupa. Variation at the intra- and interspecific levels was detected in terms of the number of water mites inside the black fly cocoons. Free-living deutonymphal and adult water mites representing 15 different species of six genera and five families were morphologically identified. The taxonomic identity of the parasitic mite larvae is unclear at present. Morphologically, they fit descriptions of larval Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) algeriensis Lundblad, 1942, but the possibility cannot be excluded that they represent Sperchon algeriensis, the most abundant species at the adult stage in this study and unknown at the larval stage, or even another species of the genus. A molecular analysis produced for the first time cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences for S. algeriensis. Conclusions Our results contribute to current knowledge on Spanish Hydrachnidia and their relationships with simuliids as hosts. However, further research is needed to evaluate the diversity, distribution, bioecology and prevalence of this parasitism. Graphical Abstract

A new species of water mite from Montenegro, i.e. Atractides milosevicisp. nov., is described, using morphological data and DNA barcodes. Morphologically, the new species is closely related to A. nodipalpis sensu Gerecke, 2003 but differs in its distinct COI barcode sequence, as well as details of the terminal segments of the first legs. Morphological examination of specimens of A. nodipalpis from the Netherlands which belong to the same BIN (BOLD:ACA0209) as the specimens of the nominal species collected near its type locality in Norway reveals that the latter, one of the most common water mite species in running waters in Europe, can be identified by the shape of male genital plate with a distinct anteromedial peg-like fissure. A redescription is given of Atractides nodipalpis (Thor, 1899) based on material from the Netherlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torrenticola meridionalis Di Sabatino & Cicolani, 1990 was originally described from Italy and later has been noted in different parts of the Balkans. Next researches, based on molecular data, have shown that it is a species-complex. This work provides new data on Torrenticola cf. meridionalis based on DNA barcodes of specimens from Poland and confirms previous assumptions about the Torrenticola meridionalis-complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water mites of the genus Hygrobates Koch, 1837 are one of the most abundant water mite species in all kinds of running and standing waters in Türkiye. In this study, DNA barcodes were recovered from 26 specimens, morphologically assigned to five Hygrobates species. One species of the H. trigonicus species-complex (H. crypticussp. nov.) from Eastern Türkiye, is described as new for science. Two species, Hygrobates thori and H. anatolicus were represented by two BINs. The first COI sequences is provided for Hygrobates anatolicusEsen & Pešić, 2013. The current diversity of the genus Hygrobates in Türkiye is discussed based on molecular and morphological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An illustrated description of a new species Arrenurus pogorelkaensis sp. nov. from Yaroslavsky Region of Russia is given. Color red, cauda well developed, petiole very small without ligulate process, pentagonal, not extending beyond idiosoma posterior margin, hyaline membrane absent.

Water mites are the most diverse freshwater group of Acari and despite growing research interest in the ecology of this group, the environmental influences along longitudinal river gradients on their assemblages are still not fully understood. The objective of this study was to determine how physico-chemical water properties and hydromorphological alterations affect the composition and distribution of water mite assemblages along a longitudinal river gradient. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected from 20 study sites distributed longitudinally along the entire 106 km course of a lowland river (Bednja River) in the Pannonian Lowlands ecoregion of Croatia. At each site, 20 samples were collected with regard to microhabitat composition (+400 samples in total). In parallel with the sampling of macroinvertebrates at each site, the physico-chemical water properties were measured and the degree of hydromorphological alteration was assessed (European Standard EN 15843:2010). Both the number of taxa and water mite abundance were found to increase significantly with increasing distance from the source. However, the assemblages from the upper reaches and those from the lower reaches shared very few species, emphasizing the importance of species-level identification. Water mite species richness and diversity were not reduced with increased levels of variables associated with organic enrichment and eutrophication pressures. Similarly, hydromorphological alteration did not reduce either water mite abundance or species richness and was positively correlated with both. Furthermore, a correspondence analysis on water mite microhabitat preferences revealed that 32% of all species were positively associated with artificial microhabitats (technolithal). These positive associations may be the result of reduced competitive pressure from other larger invertebrates, as well as a possible preference for higher velocity, which usually occurs on smooth technolithal surfaces. A total of 22 different species of water mites were found during this study, 8 of which (or 36% of all species found) were recorded for the first time in Croatia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish are known to pose strong effects on invertebrate abundance, species richness and assemblage structure. Littoral vegetation may play a crucial role as a refuge for invertebrates vulnerable to fish predation. We studied relative densities and taxonomic composition of water mites, aquatic beetles and bugs in large lake-like ponds with different fish status (fish-free and containing fish) and mesohabitats (emergent littoral vegetation and open water zone). The macroinvertebrate taxa differed in their responses to the fish presence and in mesohabitat preferences. The density and species richness of water mites were greater in fish-containing ponds, while no differences were found between littoral and open-water habitats. In contrast, beetles were far more numerous and species-rich in fish-free ponds and in littoral vegetation. Total densities of aquatic bugs were non-significantly higher in fish-containing ponds, and they preferred littoral areas, but species richness was independent of fish presence and mesohabitat. No statistical interactions between fish presence and the densities of individual macroinvertebrate groups in the littoral habitat were detected, indicating that their use of emergent littoral vegetation was not an antipredator response to fish. The assemblages of the three macroinvertebrate taxa exhibited nested structures of a different order, consistent with their species richness patterns. Our research stresses the importance of littoral vegetation for the distribution and abundance of aquatic insects; however, high fish presence may not affect or may even benefit ecologically important macroinvertebrate groups, such as water mites or bugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water mites often regarded as the admirable biomarker of the aquatic system. The present study comprised an investigation of the monthly biodiversity of water mites from the upstream zone of the Song River flowing in Doon valley, Uttarakhand from September 2019 to August 2020. On the whole 27 species of water mites belonging to 5 families namely-Aturidae, Lebertiidae, Hygrobatidae, Torrenticolidae and Sperchontidae were reported during the study. The maximum average density was noted as 299.50 individuals/m2 in December while the minimum as 12 individuals/m2 in July. Diversity indices like Taxa, Dominance, Simpson index, Shannon-Weiner index, Evenness and Margalef index were calculated using Past 3.26. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents data on the fauna of water mites (Acariformes, Hydrachnidia, Halacaroidea) of the Malaya Sosva State Nature Reserve (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug), located in the middle taiga zone of Western Siberia. The study covered the species composition, biotopic distribution and ecological features of water mites in different lentic ecosystems of the Nature Reserve. The research is based on 36 studied water bodies, which represented the main types of stagnant waters common on the Nature Reserve territory: lakes, floodplain ponds, temporary ponds and sphagnum bogs. The study revealed 51 species of Hydrachnidia and two species of Halacaroidea in different lentic water bodies. Most of the mites belonged to species typical of different types of stagnant and low flowing waters rich in submerged vegetation. Lakes of different types and permanent floodplain ponds were the richest in number of species and the number of mites. In these water bodies, three species of water mites prevailed, namely, Limnesia koenikei Piersig, 1894, Piona pusilla Neumann, 1875, and Piona carnea Koch, 1836. The number and species richness of mites were low in temporary ponds, but their fauna was based on specific spring species characteristic of astatic ponds. The fauna of the sphagnum bogs was the poorest, in which one species of Halacaroidea was the eudominant – Porolohmannella violacea Kramer, 1879. Unionicola parvipora is recorded for the fauna of Russia for the first time.

Background: Documentation on water mites in Spain is scarce, as is information on the parasite-host relationship between certain water mite species and representatives of the dipteran family Simuliidae. The discomfort caused to humans and animals by black flies seems to be increasing in recent years. In this context, an investigation of parasitic water mites is of great importance, not only from the point of view of biodiversity, but also in terms of their potential to control black fly populations. Methods: Rivers across a wide region of eastern Spain were sampled to determine the specific richness of simuliid dipterans and to investigate their possible parasites, such as water mites, mermithid nematodes and microsporidia (fungal microbes). Data on environmental variables, abundance, prevalence and intensity of parasitism on the collected specimens were analyzed. Results: In 10 streams, 15,396 simuliid pupae were collected and checked for the presence of water mite larvae; 426 pupae in seven streams were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Of the 21 simuliid species identified based on morphological characters, eight were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Water mite infection was not equally distributed among black fly species. Also, the prevalence of parasitism was low and differed among simuliid species, ranging from one to 13 water mites per black fly pupa. Variation at the intra- and interspecific levels was detected in terms of the number of water mites inside the black fly cocoons. Free-living deutonymphal and adult water mites representing 15 different species of six genera and five families were morphologically identified. The taxonomic identity of the parasitic mite larvae is unclear at present. Morphologically, they fit descriptions of larval Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) algeriensis Lundblad, 1942, but the possibility cannot be excluded that they represent Sperchon algeriensis, the most abundant species at the adult stage in this study and unknown at the larval stage, or even another species of the genus. A molecular analysis produced for the first time cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences for S. algeriensis. Conclusions: Our results contribute to current knowledge on Spanish Hydrachnidia and their relationships with simuliids as hosts. However, further research is needed to evaluate the diversity, distribution, bioecology and prevalence of this parasitism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water mites (Hydrachnidia) are good model organisms for the assessment and long-term monitoring of the biological impacts of natural and human-induced environmental changes in freshwater ecosystems, including those related to global climate change. However, monitoring programs using water mites as bioindicators may be impeded by difficulties associated with species identification. Here we integrate conventional morphology, DNA sequence data (using the COX1 barcoding locus) and extensive voucher photo documentation to create and validate a tool for accurate species identification of water mites in Western Siberia (including a dedicated reference climate monitoring and research site). Using this approach, we detected a total of 95 species, of which, one was a conventional new species; 14 taxa were cryptic species having large among-species COX1 K2P distances but lacking any apparent morphological differences. Our a priori species delimitation was successfully validated a posteriori. An automatic species delimitation algorithm (ASAP) identified exactly the same set of 95 species, with a species delimitation threshold of 6.1%. This result agrees with previous works suggesting a large threshold of 5.6–6.0% for water mites, but contrasts with the BOLD approach which uses a much lower threshold to identify BINs (1%). Furthermore, by comparing our identified sequences with GenBank data, we expanded known geographic ranges of several water mite species. Using extensive GenBank data on mites in Canadian waters, four species were detected to be Holarctic rather than Palaearctic as thought previously (Lebertia obscura, Limnesia undulatoides, Oxus nodigerus and Arrenurus papillator). Four species, Lebertia obscura, Torrenticola brevirostris, Hygrobates limnocrenicus and Unionicola parvipora, were recorded for the first time in Russia. We provide an annotated species checklist reporting the distribution, ecology, bioindiocation potential, and COX1 barcode sequence data along with high-resolution photographs of each DNA voucher. Future ecological and biodiversity studies will benefit from using molecular tools for accurate identification of useful mesofaunal bioindicator organisms, such as water mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we describe a new subgenus and three new species of parasitic water mites in the genus Unionicola (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Myanmar: Myanmaratax subgen. nov., Unionicola (Myanmaratax) savadiensis subgen. and sp. nov. (hosts: Lamellidens savadiensis and L. generosus), U. (My.) generosa sp. nov. (the same hosts), and U. (My.) trapezidenssp. nov. (hosts: Trapezidens dolichorhynchus and T. angustior). These taxa were identified based on a two-gene phylogenetic analysis (COI + 28S), which also confirms the division of the genus Unionicola into numerous subgenera. The new species are cryptic species, which are morphologically indistinguishable but strongly resemble U. (Prasadatax) brandti Vidrine, 1985 described from Thailand (hosts: Lens spp. and Ensidens spp.). We also transfer the latter taxon from Prasadatax to Myanmaratax based on a set of morphological evidence and propose U. (My.) brandti comb. nov. The new subgenus contains a total of five species, one of which needs future sampling efforts and will be described elsewhere. Additionally, 56 valid subgenera, which were placed in the synonymy of the genus and in one case raised to the genus level, are restored here until robust phylogenetic evidence on their taxonomic status is available. Our results also confirm that Unionicola mites are narrow host specialists that are associated with either one or a few closely related freshwater mussel species belonging to one or two sister genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the first DNA barcodes of water mites collected in Uttarakhand State of India are presented. The first data for nine species were uploaded into the BOLD Systems. Two species, Sperchonopsis himalayaensissp. nov. (Sperchontidae) and Aturus uttarakhandensissp. nov. (Aturidae), are described as new for science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia) are a significant component of freshwater ecosystems inhabiting a wide range of aquatic habitats. This study provides a first comprehensive DNA barcode library for the water mites of Montenegro. DNA barcodes were analysed from 233 specimens of water mites morphologically assigned to 86 species from 28 genera and 15 families. In the course of the study, four species, i.e. Lebertia reticulata (Koenike, 1919), Atractides inflatipalpis K.Viets, 1950, A. latipes (Szalay, 1935) and Parabrachypoda montii (Maglio, 1924) were molecularly confirmed as new for Montenegro and three species, i.e. Protzia octopora Lundblad, 1954, Piona laminata (Thor, 1901) and Unionicola ypsilophora (Bonz, 1783) are new for the Balkan Peninsula. Results are analysed using the Barcode Index Number system (BIN) and the Refined Single Linkage (RESL) of BOLD. The BIN assigned sequences to 98 clusters, while the RESL reveal 103 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Unique BINs were revealed for 72 species (83.7%), whereas twelve species (14%) were characterised by two BINs and two species (2.3%) with three BINs. Amongst the studied taxa, 14 species were found with a high intraspecific sequence divergences (˃ 2.2%), emphasising the need for additional comprehensive morphological and molecu­lar analysis of these species.

Multiparasitism by different species of larval water mites was observed on an adult midge collected in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Water mite larvae of Hygrobates sp. and Unionicola sp. in an inactive stage were discovered from a single chironomid female in the subfamily Chironominae. Eight Hygrobates larvae parasitized on the dorsum, and four were on the venter from the first to fourth abdominal segments of the midge. One Unionicola larvae attached on the trochanter of the left midleg and one on the femur of the right midleg. Their attachment sites on the midge accorded well with the larval site preferences of these two genera, as reported in past studies. Considering the preference of Unionicola for the specific segments of the legs, the observed site partitioning between Hygrobates and Unionicola seems to have originated by intrinsic site preferences of each taxon rather than interspecific competition. On the other hand, two less-engorged Hygrobates larvae were observed among the fully engorged larvae on the abdominal segments of the midge. Such developmental variations are possibly caused by intraspecific competition for nutrients among conspecific larvae on a single host individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New records of water mites from Iran and Turkey revealed by DNA barcoding are presented. DNA barcodes were recovered from 44 water mite specimens morphologically assigned to 18 species. The DNA barcoding data for the twelve species were uploaded into the BOLD database. One species of the Hygrobates longiporus-complex, H. thori Pešić & Smit sp. nov. is described as new for science and Hydrodroma persicaPešić & Saboori, 2012 is reported as new for Turkey. We propose to lower the taxonomic status of Hydrodroma golestanica to a subspecies of H. torrenticola, i.e. H. torrenticola golestanicanov. stat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water mites are a significant component of freshwater ecosystems. On Corsica (France) they are inhabiting mainly running waters. DNA barcodes of 84 specimens morphologically assigned to 27 water mite species were newly generated for this study. The first DNA barcoding data for six species were uploaded into the BOLD database, three of these, Protzia pycnica Gerecke, 1996, Atractides corsicus E. Angelier, 1954, A.giustinii Gerecke & Di Sabatino, 2013, are endemics for Corsica and Sardinia. Comparison with publicly available DNA barcodes from BOLD and GenBank allowed us on one side to link the Corsican clades with their sister-clades and assess which clades may represent putative species, and on the other hand to recognize several species complexes that needs additional studies. Based on the results of the molecular analysis, we propose to resurrect Sperchon meridianus Angelier, 1954, a species previously synonymized with S.setiger Thor, 1898. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater Halacaridae are poorly known in Mexico. The only species reported so far is Limnohalacarus cultellatus Viets, 1940 from Quintana Roo, but the country is still a white spot for this group of mites. Recently, some halacarid specimens were collected in samples from two locations in Mexico City. Herein we present the records of two species: Porolohmanella violacea (Kramer, 1879), and Porohalacarus alpinus (Thor, 1910), which increase the number of epicontinental halacarids to three. These records are the first for the country and extend the known worldwide distribution range for each of these species. Future studies will certainly increase the number of halacarid species, and probably the percentage of species of these aquatic mites in Mexico.

Public molecular databases are fundamental tools for modern taxonomic studies whose usefulness rely on the soundness of the data within them. Here, we study potential errors that can arise along the data pipeline from sampling, specimen identification and molecular processing (digestion, amplification and sequencing) to the submission of sequences to these databases by using the DNA sequences of Hydrachnidia (Acari, Parasitengona) as a case study. Our results indicate that molecular information is available for only about 3% of the Hydrachnidia species known to date; yet, within this small percentage, errors are present in almost 5% of the species analyzed (0.5% of the sequences and almost 11% of the genera). This study underscores the scarcity of genetic data available for Hydrachnidia, but also that the proportion of errors in DNA sequences is relatively small. Even so, it highlights the danger associated with using DNA sequences from public databases, particularly for species identification, and reinforces the need for greater quality control measures and/or protocols to avoid an intensification of errors in the (post) genomics era. Finally, our study emphasizes that potential errors may also reveal cryptic diversity within a species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visualization and representation are two processes at the core of basic biodiversity studies. Visualization involves the examination, sorting, and evaluation of similarities and differences among specimens by specialists who then assign them to the same or different species. It is a cognitive process. Representing involves transmitting the knowledge obtained in the first step to others, usually specialists of the group under study, generally through written descriptions aided by representative drawings and/or images. In this work, I describe a new species of water mite, Brachypodopsis guillermoi n. sp. (Acari, Hydrachnidia), from the island of Coiba off the Pacific coast of Panama, using both laser scanning confocal microscopy and extended depth of focus microscopy with visible (wavelength: 400–700 nm) and ultraviolet (wavelength: 365 nm) light. A comparison of the surface texture representation obtained from these imaging methods suggests that extended depth of focus ultraviolet microscopy can be a cost‐effective alternative to laser scanning confocal microscopy for the description of exoskeletal features of micro‐arthropods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An illustrated description of male of a new species Limnesia mongolica sp. nov. from Dergun reservoir of Mongolia is given. The genital field with three pairs of small acetabula, distance between ac.1 and ac.2 two to three times larger than length of any acetabulum, distance between ac.2 and ac.3 equal or larger than length of any acetabulum; P-4 distally strongly curved, with two simple ventral setae near middle of segment.

Two new species of water mites of the family Lebertiidae, Lebertia (Brentalebertia) micropalpis sp. n. and Lebertia (Lebertia) pesici sp. n., are described and illustrated. Specimens of these two species have been collected from the upper part of the Köprüçay River, Antalya Basin, western Anatolian Karstic Plateau, Turkey [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia) are a significant component of freshwater ecosystems inhabiting a wide range of aquatic habitats. This study provides a first comprehensive DNA barcode library for the water mites of Montenegro. DNA barcodes were analysed from 233 specimens of water mites morphologically assigned to 86 species from 28 genera and 15 families. In the course of the study, four species, i.e. Lebertia reticulata (Koenike, 1919), Atractides inflatipalpis K.Viets, 1950, A. latipes (Szalay, 1935) and Parabrachypoda montii (Maglio, 1924) were molecularly confirmed as new for Montenegro and three species, i.e. Protzia octopora Lundblad, 1954, Piona laminata (Thor, 1901) and Unionicola ypsilophora (Bonz, 1783) are new for the Balkan Peninsula. Results are analysed using the Barcode Index Number system (BIN) and the Refined Single Linkage (RESL) of BOLD. The BIN assigned sequences to 98 clusters, while the RESL reveal 103 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Unique BINs were revealed for 72 species (83.7%), whereas twelve species (14%) were characterised by two BINs and two species (2.3%) with three BINs. Amongst the studied taxa, 14 species were found with a high intraspecific sequence divergences (> 2.2%), emphasising the need for additional comprehensive morphological and molecular analysis of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The aquatic Acari are known as water mites and occupy a wide range of habitats. The freshwater mites, Unionicola aegyptiaca, were collected from the freshwater mussel, Caelatura aegyptiaca, River Nile, Sohag, Egypt. The present paper focuses on the structure of the cuticle and musculature of freshwater mite, U. aegyptiaca. Results Histologically, the cuticle consists of two main layers: epicuticle and procuticle. The latter divided into two sublayers, exocuticle (exo) and endocuticle (en). The musculature of the present species, U. aegyptiaca, is divided into three regions: gnathosoma, idiosoma, and legs. The muscles of the body are classified according to their position and function. Conclusion Details of muscles of gnathosoma, coxal epimerae, genital field, and legs were all described and discussed. The cuticle and musculature of U. aegyptiaca were studied by using the light microscope, and the drawings were down with the help of a camera Lucida. It is likely to note that the cuticle and musculature of freshwater mite, U. aegyptiaca, were described and discussed for the first time in Egypt.

Temporary ponds are specific freshwater habitats in which the characteristic fauna of aquatic organisms is formed. One of the large groups of invertebrates in temporary water bodies is water mites. In this work, water mites were studied in three different types of temporary ponds in the vicinity of the city of Tyumen, Western Siberia. The studies were carried out in two periods with a long time interval between them: in 2008–2010 and 2018–2019. In total, 33 species of water mites from 7 families were identified in the studied ponds. All ponds were dominated by vernal mite species typical for this type of water bodies. Also, they were characterized by similar seasonal dynamics of numbers. The species composition and the number of mites in different ponds varied, which is associated with different physicochemical parameters and the fauna of invertebrates, which served as food objects and hosts for the adults and larvae. Despite the small size and periodic drying of the ponds, the fauna of the mites inhabiting them has changed little over the long period of time that separates the studies. Only in one pond, which became permanent due to the rise of groundwater, significant changes in acarofauna were observed. Considering such constancy of the fauna of water mites of temporary ponds, they can be used as bioindicators of the ecological state of water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larvae of the fresh-water mite Limnochares aquatica (L., 1758) feeding on the pond-skaters Gerris lacustris (L. 1758) and their stylostome were studied using laboratory observations, light-microscope, SEM and TEM methods. The emergence of unfed larvae from the eggshell in the laboratory was also traced. Larvae possess a lamellar area on the ventral surface of the hypostome (supposed sucker or velum), which adheres to the host cuticle during feeding. The bifurcated palpal claws do not pierce the host cuticle and remain outside it during the larval feeding. The larvae secrete at least two saliva portions – the initial one gradually penetrating the host cuticle to which the cheliceral movable digits firmly adhere, and the main one forming the stylostome as such situated underneath the host cuticle. The developed stylostome does not immerse deep into the body cavity and is represented by associations of the uniformly electron-dense globules, the largest of which are pierced by the axial canal. This type of stylostome may be conventionally identified as unclearly ramified structured totally composed of the saliva secretion. The host tissue is partly destructed by the parasite saliva action, and the host defence reaction is imperceptible. The observed stylostome structure may be considered as an initial form for the fresh-water mite branch of the Parasitengona. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have reported that the interaction between water mite larvae and their Odonata hosts affects mating success, flight, and longevity. Males and females of Odonata species collected in the steppes and coastal plains (Pampa Biome) of Rio Grande do Sul were analyzed. Mites were removed when present and the prevalence and intensity of parasites was calculated. The aim of this study was to search and report new Odonata hosts species that are parasitized by water mite larvae and also to evaluate the prevalence and intensity rates; the differences in mite occurrence and frequency between males and females, and between thorax and abdomen of the dragonflies and damselflies in the southern Pampa biome located in Rio Grande do Sul. A total of 162 larval mites were found associated to two Odonata families: Coenagrionidae (Acanthagrion lancea Selys, 1876, Ischnura capreolus Hagen, 1861 and Ischnura fluviatilis Selys, 1876) and Libelullidae (Micrathyria ocellata Martin, 1897 and Perithemis mooma Kirby, 1889). All mites were identified as Arrenurus (Arrenurus) sp. (Arrenuridae) and showed high numbers when attached to I. capreolus (55.5%), I. fluviatilis (33.3%), followed by low numbers on M. ocellata (6.1%), A. lancea (3.7%), and P. mooma (1.2%). Mites were found on males and females of I. capreolus and I. fluviatilis, females of A. lancea and P. mooma and in M. ocellata only in males. As the parasitized Odonata species are generalist and abundant in all water body types, traits associated with mating and oviposition or larval behavior are believed to explain the frequency of parasitism in these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An illustrated description of male of a new species Hygrobates neosokolowi sp. nov. from running waters of Primorsky Krai of Russia is given. The genital field of the new species with large genital acetabula occupying about one half of acetabular plate surface, posteromedial indentation without median projection, genital field with 24–25 pairs setae, five pairs longer and thicker than other genital setae.

A description of the male and female of a new water mite species of the genus Zschokkea from the Asian part of Russia is given.

Hydrachnidia is an important group of aquatic invertebrates. They play an important role in regulating other invertebrate populations, thus influencing the composition and functionality of river ecosystems. The present study aims to assess the habitat ecology, density and diversity of aquatic mites in the Khankra gad, Rudraprayag district for a period of two year on a monthly basis, from July 2018 to June 2020. The Khankra gad is a perennial spring-fed stream originating from the Bansoun peak in district-Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya (800 m asl). A total of 2537 Hydrachnidia samples were collected, belonging to 6 families viz, Torrenticolidae, Sperchontidae, Feltriidae, Hygrobatidae, Lebertiidae and Aturidae. Sperchontidae, Torrenticolidae and Hygrobatidae were the common families recorded in both spots, whereas Feltriidae was recorded in Spot-1, Lebertiidae and Aturidae were recorded in Spot-2. The highest numbers (1842) of Hydrachnidia were collected from Spot-2. A total of 19 aquatic mite species were recorded in Spot-1 and 25 species in Spot-2 throughout the study period. Aquatic mites showed maximum density (177 units.m-2 in Spot-1 and 274units.m-2 in Spot-2) in December and minimum (11 units.m-2 in Spot-1 and 17 units.m-2 in Spot-2) in July. Various ecological parameters of our study indicated that Khankra gad is a good habitat for aquatic mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new aturid species are described and illustrated from China: Woolastookia allobasilicalabricasp. nov., and Paraxonopsis suturasp. nov. in the Axonopsinae, and Aturus jixiensissp. nov. in the Aturinae. The genus Paraxonopsis is a newly recorded genus for the Chinese fauna. Woolastookia allobasilicalabricasp. nov. is the third species and Aturus jixiensissp. nov. is the second species in their respective genera from China. A key to the Chinese fauna of Aturidae is provided in this paper. Meanwhile, the diagnosis of Paraxonopsis is revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ponds are small lentic waterbodies that lack the deep aphotic layer. They can be either perennial or temporary as well as of natural or anthropogenic origin. Despite their small size and isolated nature, they are often considered as reservoirs of biodiversity for neighboring ecosystems, and could in fact be considered as special ecotones that house numerous semi-aquatic species. Although relatively poorly researched, ponds have been shown to contribute to regional biodiversity as much as rivers or lakes. The great local diversity of these petite ecosystems was once again proven in a small perennial pond (approximately 25 meters long and 10 meters wide) in the Dinaric Western Balkan ecoregion, where four water mite species were recorded, three of which are new findings for the water mite fauna of Croatia. Habitat conditions, i.e. macrophyte coverage and environmental water properties of the pond, proved to be suitable for typical pond species such as Piona laminata but also seemed to reflect conditions similar to helocrenes as species usually associated with these spring habitats were also found: Hydryphantes armentarius and Tartarothyas romanica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larval stage of Neolimnochares johnstoni Smith and Cook, 2005 is first described in detail, and the larva of a similar undescribed species, Neolimnochares sp. B, see Table 1, is recorded from Peru. Larvae attributed to Limnochares (Cyclothrix) australica Lundblad, 1941a by Martin and Smit (2002) are considered to belong to Neolimnochares Lundblad, 1941c. Neolimnocharinae subfam. n. is proposed and discussed. For larvae assigned to this subfamily, parasitic on veliid water bugs (Rhagovelia Mayr, 1865) and with extraordinary morphological modifications, new taxa are proposed: Veliacola gen. n., (V. mirificus sp. n., Madagascar); Archaeveliacola gen. n. (A. papuanus sp. n., Indonesia, A. smiti sp. n., Australia); Armaveliacola gen. n. (A. rhagoveliae sp. n., Madagascar, A. major sp. n., Madagascar, A. minor sp. n., Cameroon, Kenya); Isoveliacola gen. n. (I. costaricensis sp. n., Costa Rica, I. borneoensis sp. n., Indonesia). Additional records are: Veliacola sp. (Dominican Republic), Archaeveliacola sp. (Bolivia), and Isoveliacola sp. (Belize). Neolimnochares (Paracyclothrix) Lundblad, 1967 is synonymised with Limnochares (Cyclothrix) Wolcott, 1905, resulting in Limnochares (Cyclothrix) hyaliniseta (Lundblad, 1969) comb. n., and L. (C.) longimaxillaris (Lundblad, 1969) comb. n. (both Myanmar). LSID: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]