Morphology and life cycle of Abrolophus norvegicus (Thor, 1900) with notes on Abrolophus spp. (Actinotrichida: Prostigmata: Erythraeidae)

Abrolophus norvegicus (Thor, 1900) is redescribed. An extended diagnosis of Abrolophus Berlese, 1891 (= Hauptmannia Oudemans, 1910) is provided for all active life instars. Description of larva of A. norvegicus is based on specimens obtained by experimental rearing from field-collected females. Variability of morphological characters is evaluated for offspring of a single female, within a particular population and between different populations originating from Europe. The specific status of A. norvegicus is discussed. A female of A. norvegicus, collected in northern Germany is selected as neotype. Hauptmannia silesiacus Haitiinger, 1986, syn. nov., Abrolophus neobrevicollis Zhang et Goldarazena, 1996, syn. nov., Hauptmannia striata Saboori, Šundic et Pesic, 2011, syn. nov., Hauptmannia dagmarae Haitiinger, 2012, syn. nov. are considered synonyms of Ritteria norvegica Thor, 1900. Data on habitat specificity and phenology of A. norvegicus as well as on its development are given.