Grzegorz Gabryś

Acari: Terrestrial Parasitengona inhabiting transient biotopes

The Parasitengona (Acari: Prostigmata) constitute one of the most diverse taxa among the Acari with respect to species richness as well as with respect to inhabited biotopes and realised life styles. Many of the Parasitengona species are conspicuous due to their relatively large size and their often bright red colouration. Hitherto, about 9,000 species of Parasitengona have been described, with the water mites (Hydrachnidia, chapter 7) making up the main portion.

Subspecies of the Eeuropean beaverCastor fiber Linnaeus, 1758

Subspecific relationships of the European beaverCastor fiber have been obscured by failure to follow the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and remain an open issue. Inconsequence in the use of subspecies names caused a nomenclatural as well as a taxonomic confusion. We discuss these controversial and incorrect nomenclatural decisions, and recognize 9 nominal subspecies of European beaver, bearing 9 available names:C. f. fiber Linnaeus, 1758,C. f. galliae Geoffroy, 1803, C. f. albicus Matschie, 1907,C. f. vistulanus Matschie, 1907,C. f. pohlei Serebrennikov, 1929,C. f. birulai Serebrennikov, 1929,C. f. tuvinicus Lavrov, 1969,C. f. belorussicus Lavrov, 1981, andC. f. orientoeuropaeus Lavrov, 1981.

Harvestmen (Opiliones) as hosts of Parasitengona (Acari: Actinotrichida, Prostigmata) larvae

Abstract New records of parasitic Parasitengona larvae on harvestmen hosts from the Palaearctic region are provided. Four species of harvestmen have been found to be new hosts of Parasitengona and four species of mites have been recorded as new parasites of Opiliones. The first case of parasitism of Hydrachnidia on harvestmen has been found.

Leptus phalangii (De Geer, 1778) (Acari: Actinotrichida: Prostigmata) — Redescription, Ecology and Taxonomic Notes on Its Relatives

Abstract. A redescription of Leptus phalangii (De Geer, 1778) (= L. nemorum (C. L. Koch, 1836), syn. nov., = L. beroni Fain, 1991, syn. nov.) based on adults, deutonymphs and larvae, is supplemented with data on life cycle and ecology of the species. Larvae of L. phalangii developed, under laboratory conditions, into deutonymphs of L. nemorum, species hitherto known only from active postlarval forms. A field-collected female of L. phalangii is designated as the neotype.

A New Data on Biology and Taxonomy of Neotrombicula inopinata (Oudemans, 1909) and Leptotrombidium russicum (Oudemans, 1902) (Acari: Actinotrichida: Trombiculidae)

Abstract. The results of experimental rearing of Neotrombicula inopinata and Leptotrombidium russicum and of field studies aiming at finding the hitherto unknown habitats occupied by active postlarval forms are presented. Diagnoses of deutonymphs reared from field-collected larvae of both species are provided. Literature interpretation of deutonymph of N. inopinata is inconsistent with the characteristics of deutonymph of N. inopinata obtained from larvae by experimental rearing. Larvae of L. russicum and L. silvaticum can be separated only on the base of host spectrum. Considering the biology of the parasite and host species, it is likely that postlarval forms of bat-parasitizing species may be confined to tree and cave habitats, whereas those species that are known as parasites of rodents inhabit the soil habitats.

A Redescription of Erythraeus acis (Berlese, 1882) Non Schweizer, 1951 (Acari: Actinotrichida: Erythraeidae) with Notes on Some Related Species from the Palaearctic Region

Abstract. Erythraeus acis (Berlese, 1882) is redescribed basing on type specimen from Berlese Acaroteca deposited in Firenze, Italy. The individual, labelled as ‘Coll. Berlese, Erythraeus acis (tipico) Berl. Acireale’ and registered in the collection as 30/40 is illustrated, measured and described. Diagnosis and description are supplemented with standard measurements, not considered in original description. Differentiating diagnoses comprise Palaearctic species of Erythraeus Latreille, 1806, known from postlarval forms, and satisfactorily described in literature. Concise diagnosis and systematic status of Erythraeus gorcensis Gabryś, 2016, is provided. Neotypes for Erythraeus adpendiculatus (Schrank, 1781), E. opilionoides (C. L. Koch, 1837) and E. rupestris (Linnaeus, 1758) are designated as well. The case of sexual dimorphism, sporadic in Erythraeus, and its influence on synonymy is mentioned in relation to Erythraeus cinereus (Dugés, 1834) (= Erythraeus similis (Canestrini, 1885)).

Description of deutonymphs of Kamertonia polonica Gabryś, 2000 (Acari: Actinotrichida: Erythraeidae)

Abstract A detailed description of deutonymphs of Kamertonia polonica Gabryś, 2000 is provided for the first time. Their general appearance is similar to adults and the slight differences are quantitative. The distribution of K. polonica is discussed.

Taxonomic notes on Willmannella Feider, 1952 (Acari: Actinotrichida: Microtrombidiidae) with redescription of adult W. Racovitzai (Feider, 1949) from Hungary

Abstract. Willmannella racovitzai (Feider, 1949) is redescribed based on adults. A male, collected in Hungary has been designated as neotype. Willmannella franzi (Willmann, 1950) is regarded the subjective junior synonym of W. racovitzai. The taxonomy and distribution of the genus are discussed and a key to all species known from postlarval instars is provided.