On the taxonomy of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) described from the Palaearctic, part 1: Hydrachnidae, Limnocharidae and Eylaidae

Abstract This paper collects taxonomic changes in the families Hydrachnidae, Limnocharidae and Eylaidaewhich become necessary following revision of material from museum collections and recent fieldwork. The following synonyms are established: Family Hydrachnidae, genus Hydrachna: Thesubgenera Anohydrachna Thor, 1916, Diplohydrachna Thor, 1916, Rhabdohydrachna K. Viets,1931 are synonyms of Hydrachna s.str.; H. globosa neumani Lundblad, 1962a, and H. globosarotundata Láska, 1964, are synonyms of H. globosa (De Geer, 1778); H. halberti Soar, 1908, H.levis Williamson, 1913 and H. levis acuminata K.O. Viets, 1954 are synonyms of H. incisa Halbert,1903; H. perpera Koenike, 1908 is a synonym of H. processifera Koenike, 1903; H. skorikowiintegra K. Viets, 1930 is a synonym of H. schneideri Koenike, 1895. Family Eylaidae, genus Eylais: E. bisinuosa nodipons K. Viets, 1919 is a synonym of E. bisinuosa Piersig, 1899; E. rimosaproceripalpis K. Viets, 1930 is a synonym of E. mutila Koenike, 1897; E. puripons K.Viets, 1930,E. bisinuosa oligotricha Lundblad, 1936, E. planipons novata K. Viets 1942 and E. canariensisLundblad, 1962b are synonyms of E. planipons Walter, 1924.The following species must be regarded species incertae: Family Hydrachnidae, genusHydrachna: H. aspratilis Koenike, 1897, H. bivirgulata Piersig, 1897a, H. brehmi Szalay, 1955, H.denudata Piersig, 1896, H. inermis Piersig, 1895, H. levigata Koenike, 1897, H. papilligera K.Viets, 1919, H. piersigi Koenike, 1897, H. regulifera Koenike, 1908, H. williamsoni Soar, 1908.Family Eylaidae, Eylais glubokensis Udalzov, 1907.The geographical origin of Hydrachna extorris Koenike, 1897, probably collected outsideEurope, is unclear. Two species new to science are described from springs and running waters in S Europe:Limnochares azubi Gerecke, sp. nov. (West Mediterranean) and Limnochares danielei Gerecke &Smit, sp. nov. (East Mediterranean).