Pionopsis lutescens (Herman, 1804) – male – identification certain

Fig 10 Pionopsis lutescens male dorsal from front

This small water mite of 0.7mm in length was caught in Saint Martin au Laërt. It is, without doubt, a Pionopsis lutescens male. I’ve already written a page on the Pionopsis lutescens female found in the same wateringue 1 month before.

My first observations.

2 eyes reddish
General size of the body oval.
Back and lateral part of the body transparent.
Yellow patch on the back.
2 small sclerites rather close at the back of the body. Visible (dark spots) from the top (fig 90)and from beneath (fig 30).
Anchoral process of gnathosoma like a straight line (fig 50).
Anchoral process of first pair of coxae forming a hook passing behind third coxae plates (fig 50)
First pair of coxae not jointed.
Suture line between third and fourth coxae continue (fig 30).
Third and fourth coxae jointed.
Coxae plates occupying more than 3/4 of the ventral surface.
Posterior end of fourth coxae nicely rounded.
Genital area very close to the fourth pair of coxae.
3 acetabulae on each genital plates.
Rather long setae on the legs (fig 60 for example).
Fifth segment of fourth pair of leg slightly cruved (fig 90)

Synonymous.

Nesaea trinotata, Nesea tripunctata, Hydrachna lutescens, Atax lutescens, Non Hygrobates lutescens, Tiphys descoratus (?), Tiphys chloropus (?), Tiphys novemunaculata (?), Piona flavescens, Piona lapponica, Piona lutescens,