An appraisal of the water mite genus Hygrobates Koch, 1837 from Turkiye, based on morphological and molecular data (Acariformes, Hydrachnidia, Hygrobatidae)

Water mites of the genus Hygrobates Koch, 1837 are one of the most abundant water mite species in all kinds of running and standing waters in Turkiye. In this study, DNA barcodes were recovered from 26 specimens, morphologically assigned to five Hygrobates species. One species of the H. trigonicus species-complex (H. crypticus sp. nov.) from Eastern Turkiye, is described as new for science. Two species, Hygrobates thori and H. anatolicus were represented by two BINs. The first COI sequences is provided for Hygrobates anatolicus Esen & Pesic, 2013. The current diversity of the genus Hygrobates in Turkiye is discussed based on molecular and morphological data.

Automated summary

In this study, the DNA barcodes of Hygrobates mite species in different types of water bodies in Turkiye were obtained and discussed. The results showed the existence of five species morphologically classified as Hygrobates, including a new species named H. crypticus from the H. trigonicus species-complex. Additionally, the first COI sequence of H. anatolicus was provided, contributing to the understanding of the diversity of the genus Hygrobates in Turkiye based on molecular and morphological data.