Atractides Koch, 1837

Tuzovskij, Petr V., 2012, Larval morphology of Atractides ildensis Tuzovskij, 2005, A. moniezi (Motaş, 1927), and A. graecus Viets, 1950 (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Hygrobatidae), Zootaxa 3393, pp. 41-52 : 42

Genus Atractides Koch, 1837

Larval diagnosis. Dorsal plate large, covering almost entire dorsum in unengorged larvae and bearing four pairs of proterosomal setae: two pairs of simple setae and two pairs of trichobothria.

Venter, on each side, with all coxal plates fused, suture lines distinct laterally and obliterated medially, and bearing four pairs of coxal setae. Urstigma with cap, very small, lying in lateral position on the border between coxae I and II. Transverse muscle attachment scar absent or present. Excretory pore plate very large, much wider than long; anal setae (Ai, Ae) either absent and visible as alveoli, or very small setae are presented; both pairs of preanal setae (Pi, Pe) placed on the excretory pore plate anteriorly. Setae Ci very long, whip like and inserted on smaller or larger projections. Bases of chelicerae fused with each other, cheliceral stylet with single subapical tooth. Leg claws smooth or with lateral hair-like projections.

Remarks. Prasad and Cook (1972) have noted in their diagnosis of the genus Atractides : “lateral claws without hair-like projections”, but in larvae of A. nodipalpis Thor, 1899 ( Wainstein 1980) , A. adnatus Lundblad, 1956 ( Martin 2003) , A. panniculatus (Viets, 1925) ( Martin 2003) , A. magadanensis Tuzovskij, 2010 ( Tuzovskij 2010) , and A. yaroslavlensis Tuzovskij, 2011 ( Tuzovskij 2011) leg claws have such hair–like projections. The transverse muscle attachment scars, which should be absent in larvae of the family Hygrobatidae ( Smit 1976) , are present in larvae of A. ildensis and A. moniezi (see below).