Hoplophthiracarus illinoisensis (Ewing, 1909)

Murvanidze, Maka & Mumladze, Levan, 2016, Annotated checklist of Georgian oribatid mites, Zootaxa 4089 (1), pp. 1-81 : 15

Hoplophthiracarus illinoisensis (Ewing, 1909)

Syn.: Phthiracarus pavidus van der Hammen, 1963 sensu Djaparidze, 1966, 1974 ; Nothophthiracarus (Calyptophthiracarus) pavidus (Berlese, 1913) sensu Shtanchaeva & Subías, 2010

Distribution in Georgia. Whole country (Murvanidze & Arabuli 2015; Murvanidze et al. 2015; Shtanchaeva & Subías 2010)

Global distribution. Semicosmopolitan

Ecology. All types of habitats

Remark. Weigmann (2006) indicated Hoplophthiracarus pavidus van der Hammen, 1963 as a junior synonym of H. illinoisensis and added that this species is frequently confused with Hoploderma pavidum Berlese, 1913 (cf. Niedbała 2011). In previous publications (Djaparidze 1966, 1974; Darejanashvili & Gurgenidze 2004, Murvanidze & Darejanashvili 2000) the presence of H. pavidus (Berlese, 1913) was reported for several locations in Georgia. After examination of material from different locations of Georgia together with Prof. Weigmann (2001-2002), we identified the individuals of “ H. pavidus ” from Georgia as H. illinoisensis . In the Catalogue, both H. illinoisensis and Nothophthiracarus (Calyptophthiracarus) pavidus are indicated for Georgia. We have strong concerns that all these records relate to H. illinoisensis .