Pseudofeltria Soar, 1904

Gerecke, R., 2014, Pseudofeltria (Acariformes: Pionidae) In Europe: Three Previously Described Taxa, A Species New To Science From The Northern Apennines, And A Redefinition Of Foreliinae, Acarologia 54 (1), pp. 57-67 : 60-61

Genus Pseudofeltria Soar, 1904

Diagnosis — Secondary sclerotization extended dorsally (with several plates or one large shield, sexual dimorphism frequent) and ventrally (ventral shield including genital sclerites and excretory pore in males, occasionally also in females). Medial margins of Cx-IV reduced to median angles. Legs without swimming setae. III-L claws without sexual dimorphism, in shape similar to I-II-L claws. Male IV-L-5 dorsal and ventral margins distally diverging, with four to six large blade-like distoventral setae; IV-L-6 with large, unmodified claws and a strong dorsal concavity flanked by numerous peglike setae (long and densely arranged on the proximal margin, short and more distanced from each other on the distal margin). Genital field with 7-30 pairs of acetabula.

Discussion — Species of Pseudofeltria and Pionacercus agree, and differ from species of Forelia , in the plesiomorphic absence of a sexual dimorphism in III-L. They differ from Pionacercus and agree with Forelia in the apomorphic polyacetabulate condition of the genital field and differ from both genera in the absence of swimming setae and the presence of unmodified IV-L claws in males. Following a hypothesis of Cook (1974), ancestors of Pseudofeltria lost their swimming setae during the immigration into seepage. Further data is needed to decide if Pseudofeltria should be considered the sister group of Forelia , or the outgroup of [ Forelia and Pionacercus ].