Water mites of the genus Atractides Koch, 1837 (Acari: Parasitengona: Hygrobatidae) in the western Palaearctic region: a revision

The western Palaearctic species of the water mite genus Atractides are revised, based on the available type material, data published in the literature, and additional material from various collections. This paper includes the following: (1) a survey of the classification history of the genus, with description of all important morphological features, including a brief discussion of the apomorphic characters of Atractides and its presumed sister‐group relations; (2) documentation of variability and seasonal changes of morphological indices for a selected species, A. nodipalpis ; (3) a detailed description and/or discussion of all published taxa, with designation of lectotypes, definition of diagnostic character combinations, and identification of species dubiae ; (4) a dichotomic determination table for the accepted species in the study area. The main object of this study is to animate world‐wide systematic and ecological work on this important genus, which is currently hampered by taxonomic confusion. Above species level, the following synonyms are confirmed: Tetramegapus, Taeniomegapus, Megapoides  =  Atractides ; Rhynchomegapus  =  Tympanomegapus . The following new synonyms are proposed: Octomegapus , Iranomegapus  =  Atractides . Tympanomegapus and Polymegapus are redefined and accepted as distinct subgenera, while Maderomegapus is degraded to subgenus level .  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 138 , 141–378.