Feltria (Azugofeltria) motasi (Schwoerbel, 1961)

Martin, Peter, 2016, Larval morphology of benthic and interstitial water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from a Luxembourgian stream, Zootaxa 4139 (4), pp. 451-480 : 466-468

Feltria (Azugofeltria) motasi (Schwoerbel, 1961)

Material examined. Larvae attached to various chironomid hosts collected from Lurenzgriecht emergence collections in 2002, measurements refer to 5 larvae. Attribution by differing characters to the fragmentary described larva of F. rou x i (see below), the only other Feltria species present in the benthos of the stream ( Tab. 1 ).

Description. Character states as in generic diagnosis. Habitus of the idiosoma longish ( Fig. 8 A); anterior idiosoma slightly narrowed, posterior idiosoma rounded. L idiosoma 182–203 (187), W 122–174 (143). Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 8 A): Dp relatively large and striated, shape anteriorly slightly tapered, posteriorly rounded, L Dp 159–169 (163), W 96–109 (105), L eye capsule 14–17 (16), Mp2-Amdp 31–33 (32), Mp1-Mp1 37–40 (38), Mp2- Mp2 41–44 (43), Lp1-Lp 1 27–30 (28), Lp2-Lp2 67–68 (68), Mp1-Lp1 8–9 (8), Mp2-Lp 2 14–15 (15), Mp1-Mp 2 21–24 (23), Lp1-Lp 2 29–31 (30), Mp 1 14–16 (15), Mp 2 15–20 (18), Lp1 38–44 (41), Lp2 37–43 (41), Hu 34–42 (39), Mh1 32–37 (35), Mh2 35–42 (39), Mh 3 28–32 (29), Mh 4 20–25 (23), Lh 1 28–40 (35), Lh 2 25–28 (26), Lh 3 22–25 (23). Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 8 B): almost completely covered by alveolar coxal plates, setae V1 located laterally of Expp, setae V2 and V3 located more laterally, V4 more posteriomedially. CXI separated from CXII+III only laterally, common median L of both parallel CXI–CXIII 1 07–119 (114), max. W CXI– III 52 –58 (55), C1–C2 39–44 (42), C1-Mmcp 20–22 (21), C1–C4 47–52 (50), C 1 18–35 (23), C 2 25–35 (29), C 3 18–20 (19), C 4 27–29 (28); Expp subquadrangular, bearing two pairs of setae, Exp located slightly anteriorly, Expp L 8–11 (9), W 11–13 (12), E1– E1 6 –7 (6), E2– E2 8 –9 (8), E 1 7 –10 (8), E 2 5 –12 (9), V 1 8–13 (10), V 2 15–20 (18), V 3 22–28 (24), V4 35 –38 (36). Gnathosoma (dorsal view): L of base 58–60 (59), W 29–33 (31), chelicera L 42–48 (45), chela L 12– 13 (12), claw L 15–17 (16), L seta P3 36–40 (39).

Legs: All legs distinctly striated. Leg I ( Fig. 9 A): total L 156–168 (162), L IL-1 (1se) 20–22 (22), IL-2 (7se) 28–31 (29), IL-3 (4se, 1so) 28–30 (29), IL-4 (7se, 2so) 35–37 (36), IL-5 (10se, 1so, 1eu) 45–48 (46), H IL- 1 16–17 (17), IL- 2 15–17 (16), IL- 3 15–16 (15), IL- 4 15–16 (16), IL- 5 15–16 (16). Leg II ( Fig. 9 B): total L 166–173 (169), L IIL-1 (1se) 25–26 (26), IIL-2 (7se) 26–30 (28), IIL-3 (4se, 1so) 30–30 (30), IIL-4 (8se, 2so) 36–37 (36), IIL-5 (11se, 1so, 1eu) 49–50 (50), H IIL- 1 16–16 (16), IIL- 2 15–16 (16), IIL- 3 15–16 (15), IIL- 4 15–16 (15), IIL- 5 13– 14 (14). Leg III ( Fig. 9 C): total L 199–207 (202), L IIIL-1 (1se) 38–40 (39), IIIL-2 (6se) 34–36 (35), IIIL-3 (5se) 34–35 (35), IIIL-4 (7se, 1so) 41–43 (42), IIIL-5 (11se) 52–53 (52), height IIIL- 1 13–13 (13), IIIL-2 1 3–14 (14), IIIL- 3 13–14 (13), IIIL- 4 14–14 (14), IIIL- 5 13–14 (13). Leg claws consist of one short empodium and two longer ambulacra ( Fig. 9 B), all with one large median tooth and two small lateral teeth.

Remarks. Up to now there has been no detailed description of larval Feltriidae . Even Smith (1976) who gave a preliminary family diagnosis has not described any species. A preliminary diagnosis for the genus Feltria was given by Martin (2006). In addition to F. rouxi (see below), some more or less not clearly attributable larvae have also been described ( Walter 1922a: F. cf. setigera Koenike, 1896 , Walter 1922b: F. cf. minuta Koenike, 1892 , Schechtel 1910: F. cf. setigera, Gerecke & Martin 2006 : F. cf. setigera, Martin 2006 : Feltria sp.). Only if there are more thorough descriptions will the variability of characters and clearer species differentiations be possible in that genus which includes about 30 species in Europe ( Gerecke 2012).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Feltria motasi, larva. A. dorsal idiosoma, B. ventral idiosoma. Scale bar: 100 µm.

FIGURE 9. Feltria motasi. A. IL, B. IIL, C. IIIL, Scale bar: 100 µm.