A catalogue of water mites of the superfamily Arrenuroidea (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from the Mediterranean countries

A faunistic catalogue of the water mite superfamily Arrenuroidea from the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea compiles our present knowledge on the distribution of all 130 species and two subspecies, including a large number of new records. Three new species are described, Arrenurus lapislazuli SMIT spec. nov., Arrenurus margalithi SMIT spec. nov. and Arrenurus ortali SMIT spec. nov. Five species were found for the first time in the investigated area: Nudomideopsis motasi PETROVA, 1966, Chelomideopsis annemiae ROMIJN, 1921, Arrenurus inexploratus K. VIETS, 1930, Arrenurus refractariolus BIESIADKA, 1978, and A. scourfieldi SOAR, 1913. A redescription is given for Arrenurus scourfieldi, and more detailed descriptions for Stygohydracarus troglobius K. VIETS, 1932, S. subterraneaus WALTER, 1947, Arrenurus distans WALTER, 1927, A. refractariolus and A. corsicus E. ANGELIER, 1951. The female of A. pyrenaeus C. & E. ANGELIER, 1953, is described for the first time. Numerous species are recorded for the first time for the national faunas of Spain, France, Israel, Italy, Greece and the area of the former Yugoslavia. 19 species (15%) are considered species incertae (descriptions incomplete, known only in the female sex, possibly conspecific). Moreover, 24 species (18%) are very rare, and only known from one or a few records. The present state of knowledge is discussed with regard to zoogeographical aspects and needs for future research.