Kongsbergia reticulata, Habeeb, 1956

Radwell, Andrea J. & Smith, Ian M., 2012, North American members of the reticulata-like species group of the water mite genus Kongsbergia (Acari: Hydrachnidiae: Aturidae), Zootaxa 3540, pp. 1-49 : 3-4

reticulata -like species group

Diagnosis. Character states of the subgenus Kongsbergia . Male: Dorsal shield densely punctate and with punctations enclosed by a reticulate pattern of lines; with anterior edge nearly transverse or slightly convex and bearing or lacking a prominent nipple- or dome-shaped projection borne in a depression medially; with edge linear, slightly convex or concave in area between eyes and humeral region and with a modest to strong humeral angle; with a moderately to well-developed elevated hump anteromedially forming the apex of an arching ridge that curves posterolaterally from this elevation and usually meeting edges of dorsal shield near its midlength to enclose a depressed area posteromedially extending to posterior edge of shield ( Figs. 1 and 109); bearing excretory pore on a short longitudinal ridge near posterior edge; bearing three or four pairs of setae near posterior edge that are either slender, short and straight ( Fig. 1) or relatively thick, long and strongly curved ( Fig. 23). Ventral shield lacking medial suture line; bearing numerous small genital acetabula in 2–3 indistinct rows posterlaterally. Pedipalp with femur stout and rounded both dorsally and ventrally and with height equal or slightly subequal to length; with tibia bearing two stout ventral setae of which the proximal one is thickest. Fourth leg with genu, tibia and tarsus strongly modified; tibia bearing ventrally one large blade-shaped seta near midlength and smaller blade-like setae proximal to midlength and at distal end of segment; lacking slender seta distally. Female: Dorsal shield with similar sculpturing and ornamentation to that of male but with anteromedial hump and posterior depression absent and ridges relatively weakly developed. Pedipalp and segments of fourth leg unmodified.

Habitat. Rocky riffles in streams.

Distribution. Temperate North America.

Remarks. We are proposing the reticulata -like species group to provide a convenient descriptor for the clade containing the species dealt with in this paper pending revision of the subgeneric classification. The required revision must be based upon a thorough review of all described species worldwide and is beyond the scope of the present study.