Arrenurus (Brevicaudaturus) odonatophilus Münchberg, 1958,

Smit, H., 2012, New records of the water mite family Arrenuridae from the Afrotropical region, with the description of 11 new species and two new subspecies (Acari: Hydrachnidia), Zootaxa 3187, pp. 1-31 : 27-28

Arrenurus (Brevicaudaturus) odonatophilus Münchberg, 1958 nov. comb.

( Figs. 68–71)

Arrenurus discretus Cook, 1966 —new syn. Material examined. GHANA. 4/0/0, pool Ankasa NP, 5° 17.250 N 2° 38.092 W, alt. 66 m asl, 26-ii-2011.

Description. Male: Idiosoma brownish, 1162 long, 956 wide and 1102 high. Anterior margin indented, but appears in a different view rounded. D1 on large humps. Dorsal shield large and broad, dorsal furrow passing onto lateral side near genital plates. Posterior cauda margin slightly concave, shape of posterior cauda dependent on position on slide. L4 on large humps. Genital plates extending to lateral idiosoma margin. Lengths of PI-PV: 34, 92, 54, 98, 46 (antagonistic bristle of PV lost); PII with three setae medially. Lengths of I-leg-4-6: 170, 178, 259. Lengths of IV-leg-4-6: 227, 170, 194. IV-leg-4 without a spur.

Remarks. When Cook (1966) described A. discretus from Liberia, he was unaware of Münchberg’s description of A. odonatophilus (Cook in litt.). Cook’s description matches that of A. odonatophilus , except that the posterior part of the cauda doesn’t extend as far. But the way a specimen is illustrated depends much on the position in the slide. Münchberg (1958) reared the species from larvae from the dragonfly Trithemis arteriosa from Elisabethville (nowadays Lubumbashi), Congo. This dragonfly is one of the most widespread species in Afrotropocal Africa (K.D. Dijkstra in litt.). Very likely Münchberg’s specimens are not fully sclerotized, as his specimen is smaller than those of Ghana and Liberia. Unfortunately, the location of Münchberg’s material is unknown.