Three new subgenera of the genus Unionicola Haldeman, 1842 (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Unionicolidae) from China

ABSTRACT

Five species of Unionicola Haldeman, 1842 (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Unionicolidae) were collected between 2018 and 2019. Notably, Unionicola (Armatax) armata Walter, 1929, previously unrecorded in China, is now documented for the first time in the country. Additionally, Unionicola newsumi Wiles, 1999 has been reclassified and assigned to the new subgenus Vespicola within the genus Unionicola Haldeman, 1842. These findings also led to the establishment of three new subgenera: Micronodus gen. nov., Vespicola gen. nov., and Lingshuiatax gen. nov. including four species: Unionicola soluplatus sp. nov. U. jini sp. nov. U. caudipes sp. nov. and U. armatalla sp. nov. This marks the first description and documentation of these subgenera and species.

KEYWORDS:

• Hydrachnidia
• Unionicola
• taxonomy
• new subgenera
• new species
• South China

Acknowledgments

The authors express gratitude to Hai-Tao Li, the collector of significant specimens.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research received support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [32260125], the Guizhou Talent Growth Project [Qianjiaohe KY Zi [2022]023] and Guizhou Natural Science Research Projects [Qianjiaoji [2022]052].