Suctorian ciliates (Ciliophora, Suctorea) as epibionts of stream-dwelling aquatic beetles (Coleoptera) and water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) in the southwestern Palaearctic region

Abstract

Based on original data from recent research, numerous new records of the suctorian species living as epibionts on streamdwelling aquatic beetles (Coleoptera) and water mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia) in the southwestern Palaearctic area are given. The following species are reported for the first time for the national faunas: Setodiscophrya deplanata (Matthes, 1954) (Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey), Discophrya helmidis Matthes, 1954 (Montenegro, Turkey), Elatodiscophrya hochi (Matthes, 1954) (Bosnia and Hercegovina, Turkey), Periacineta buckei (Kent, 1881) (Montenegro, Greece), Discophrya lichtensteinii (Claparede & Lachmann, 1859) (Turkey, Iran). The characteristics of the suctorians as epibionts of stream-dwelling arthropods are briefly outlined