Torrenticola tahoei (Marshall, 1943)

Fisher, J. Ray, Fisher, Danielle M., Skvarla, Michael J., Nelson, Whitney A. & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2017, Revision of torrent mites (Parasitengona, Torrenticolidae, Torrenticola) of the United States and Canada: 90 descriptions, molecular phylogenetics, and a key to species, ZooKeys 701, pp. 1-496 : 1

Torrenticola tahoei (Marshall, 1943)

Atractides tahoei Marshall, 1943: 308.

Torrenticola tahoei Mitchell, 1954: 40.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, California, Santa Cruz County, Waddell Creek, 28 April 1933, PR Needham, RM330007.

PARATYPES (1 ♀; 0 ♂): from USA, California, El Dorado County, South Lake Tahoe, Taylor Creek, 1 Sep 1932, by PR Needham, RM320005.

OTHER MATERIAL (49 ♀; 59 ♂): British Columbia, Canada: 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Ryan Rest Area off Highway 3, east of Yahk Moyie River, 15 Aug 2012, by IM Smith, IMS120071 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, beside Highway 4, 35.6 kilometers east of Pacific Rim Road, 9 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760206 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Caycuse, Nixon Creek, 8 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760197& IMS760198 • 1 ♀ from Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan, Cowichan River, above Skutz Falls, 9 Jul 1979, by IM Smith, IMS790035 • 1 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan, Robertson River, South Shore Road, north of Mesachie Lake, 10 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760183A • 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan, tributary of Robertson River, South Shore Road, north of Mesachie Lake, 10 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760183B • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan, Skutz Falls, Skutz Creek, near Cowichan River, 9 Jul 1979, by IM Smith, IMS790036A & IMS790036B • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Lost Shoe Creek, beside Highway 4, 1.3 kilometers east of Pacific Rim Road, 9 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760203 • 1 ♀ from Vancouver Island, spring run beside South Shore Road, 2.3 kilometers north of Lake Cowichan, 6 Jun 1979, by IM Smith, IMS790007 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Ucluelet, beside Highway 4, 16.6 kilometers east of Pacific Rim Road, 18-19 Jul 1979, by IM Smith, IMS790047 • 1 ♀ from Vancouver Island, Youbou, Shaw Creek, North Shore Road, 4.3 kilometers south of north end of Cowichan Lake, 8 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760196 • California, USA: 1 ♂ from Calaveras County, Stanislaus National Forest, North Fork Stanislaus River (38°25'20"N, 120°2'47"W), 30 Aug 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF 13-0830-005 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from El Dorado County, El Dorado National Forest, Taylor Creek (38°55'59"N, 120°3'21"W), 27 Aug 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF 13-0827-003 • 1 ♀ from Mendocino County, Jackson Demonstration State Park, North Fork of Big River (39°20'46"N, 123°30'35"W), 22 Aug 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF 13-0822-002 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Mendocino County, Cottaneva Creek, beside Route 1, 21.8 kilometers southwest of Route 101, 5 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870129A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Mendocino County, small stream at beach access road, off Route 1, 2.6 kilometers south of Westport, 5 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870128A • 2 ♀ from Monterey County, Nacimiento River, beside Nacimiento-Ferguson Road at Nacimiento campground, 30 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870120A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Monterey County, Salmon Creek, beside Route 1, south of Gorda, 28 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870114A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Monterey County, spring run on north side of Salmon Creek, beside Route 1, south Gorda, 29 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870117 • 1 ♂ from Nevada County, Tahoe National Forest, Sagehen Creek (39°26'2"N, 120°12'17"W), 26 Aug 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF 13-0826-006 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Plumas County, beside Route 89, north of Greenville, 14 Jun 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760113 • 3 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Shasta County, Battle Creek, beside Route 44, 5.6 kilometers west of Viola, 10 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870139A • 1 ♂ from Trinity County, small cascading trickle beside Route 36, 5.2 kilometers west of Forest Glen Station, 6 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870132 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Tulare County, Johnsondale, Double Bunk Creek, beside SM50, 2.2 kilometers east of Double Bunk Meadow, 31 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870123 • 1 ♂ from Tulare County, Kern River, Brush Creek Flat, beside SM99 between Roads End Station & Johnsondale, 31 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870121 • 1 ♂ from Tulare County, Stony Creek, Stony Creek Picnic Area, east of Sequoia National Park, 1 Aug 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870124A • 1 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Ventura County, Ojai, North Fork of Ventura River, beside Route 33, just above Wheeler Gorge, 25-26 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870109A & IMS870109B • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Ventura County, Ojai, North Fork of Ventura River just below Wheeler Gorge campground, beside Route 33, 27 Jul 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870112 • Idaho, USA: 1 ♀ from Custer County, Challis National Forest, Squaw Creek (44°19'35"N, 114°28'15"W), 30 Jul 2012, by JR Fisher, WA Nelson, & JC O’Neill, ROW 12-0730-002 • 1 ♂ from Lemhi County, Salmon National Forest, Niapas Creek (45°8'15"N, 114°13'4"W), 2 Aug 2012, by JR Fisher, WA Nelson, & JC O’Neill, ROW 12-0802-003 • Montana, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Missoula County, Lolo National Forest, Lolo Creek (46°46'7"N, 114°27'53"W), 7 Aug 2012, by JR Fisher, WA Nelson, & JC O’Neill, ROW 12-0807-003 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Ravalli County, Bitterroot National Forest, West Fork Bitterroot River (45°54'38"N, 114°9'43"W), 6 Aug 2012, by JR Fisher, WA Nelson, & JC O’Neill, ROW 12-0806-003 • 1 ♀ from Ravalli County, Medicine Springs, Spring Gulch campground, East Fork of Bitterroot River, beside Route 93, 1 Jul 1985, by IM Smith, IMS850060 • Oregon, USA: 2 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Coos County, Siskiyou National Forest, Road 33 between Powers & Agness, Coal Creek, 2 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830015 • 1 ♂ from Curry County, Port Orford, Butler Bar campground, Elk River, 25 Jun 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760162 • 1 ♂ from Curry County, Port Orford, Butler Bar campground, Elk River, 25-26 Jun 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760163 • 1 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Curry County, Port Orford, Humbug Mountain State Park Picnic Area, beside Route 1, Brush Creek, 1 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830012 • 2 ♀ and 6 ♂ from Curry County, Port Orford, Humbug Mountain State Park Picnic Area, Brush Creek, beside Route 1, 3 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830020A & IMS830020B • 1 ♀ from Curry County, Port Orford, Humbug Mountain State Park Picnic Area, beside Route 1, 1 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830013 • 3 ♀ and 5 ♂ from Curry County, Sixes, Sixes River, beside road at mouth of Edson Creek, 4 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830021A & IMS830021B • 2 ♂ from Lane County, Gate Creek (44°8'48"N, 122°34'20"W), 11 Aug 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0811-001 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Lincoln County, Blackberry campground, near Tidewater, Alsea River, 28 Jun 1983, by IM Smith & AB Smith, IMS830009 • 2 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Multnomah County, Columbia River Scenic Highway, Horsetail Falls, 27 Jun 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830005 • Washington, USA: 2 ♀ from Clallam County, Green Creek (48°10'45"N, 124°12'21"W), 24 Jul 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0724-005 • 1 ♂ from Clallam County, Olympic National Forest, Jimmy Come Lately Creek (47°59'5"N, 123°0'5"W), 23 Jul 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0724-001 • 1 ♀ from Clallam County, Whiskey Creek (48°8'23"N, 123°47'7"W), 24 Jul 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0724-004 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Lewis County, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Snake Creek (46°38'52"N, 121°43'8"W), 23 Jul 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0723-006 • 2 ♂ from Snohomish County, Mount Baker National Forest, Marten River (48°4'19"N, 121°36'24"W), 28 Jul 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0728-002.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀) and allotype (♂) deposited in the CNC.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola tahoei are similar to the other member of Tahoei group, T. oregonensis by subcapitulum shape, having purple coloration restricted posteriorly and being distributed in the west and to members of the Nigroalba Group ( T. flangipalpa , T. nigroalba , T. solisorta , and T. dentirostra ) in having purple dorsal coloration restricted posteriorly. T. tahoei can be differentiated from the Nigroalba Group by being larger (dorsum length ♀ = 600-720 in T. tahoei , 475-565 in Nigroalba Group; ♂ = 560-650 in T. tahoei , 425-510 in Nigroalba Group) and distributed in the west (Nigroalba Group are eastern). T. tahoei can be differentiated from T. oregonensis by being smaller (dorsum length ♀ = 600-720 in T. tahoei , 760-840 in T. oregonensis ; ♂ = 560-650 in T. tahoei , 690-820 in T. oregonensis ; dorsum width ♀ = 430-515 in T. tahoei , 560-640 in T. oregonensis ; ♂ = 400-460 in T. tahoei , 520-605 in T. oregonensis ) and a more elongate subcapitulum (ventral length/width = 3.25-4.11 in T. tahoei , 2.63-2.74 in T. oregonensis ).

Re-description.

Female (Figure 250) (n = 7) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (600-720 (640) long; 430-515 (515) wide) ovoid with purple coloration restricted posteriorly. Anterio-medial platelets (115-140 (132.5) long; 62.5-77.5 (72.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (177.5-202.5 (192.5) long; 65-85 (75) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 335-400 (380)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.24-1.44 (1.24); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.25-1.43 (1.36); anterio-medial platelet length/width 1.68-1.96 (1.83); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.31-2.76 (2.57); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.40-1.57 (1.45).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (345-390 (390) long (ventral); 266-315 (315) long (dorsal); 95-110 (95) tall) elongate and colorless. Rostrum (142.5-157.5 (157.5) long; 40-47.5 (45) wide) elongate. Chelicerae (358-395 (395) long) with curved fangs (50-56 (52.5) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 3.41-4.11 (4.11); rostrum length/width 3.11-3.81 (3.50). Pedipalps elongate (especially tibiae) with broad, flat, dentate, and anteriorly-directed ventral extensions on femora and broadly tuberculate, dentate ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (32.5-40 long); femur (102.5-117.5 long); genu (72.5-85 long); tibia (87.5-97.5 long; 21.25-25 wide); tarsus (15-17.5 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.38-1.52; tibia/femur 0.82-0.86; tibia length/width 3.89-4.22.

Venter - (770-850 (810) long; 466-565 (565) wide) mostly colorless with areas of purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (95-112.5 (100) long; 65-80 (70) wide). Cxgl-4 far from apex. Medial suture (95-130 (122.5) long). Genital plates (160-172.5 (166.25) long; 145-160 (160) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (266-301 (290) long (total); 159-195 (190) long (medial)); Cx-3 (297-340 (335) wide); anterior venter (285-322.5 (312.5) long) elongate. Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.19-1.59 (1.43); anterior venter/genital field length 1.70-1.88 (1.88); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.84-2.08 (1.95); anterior venter/medial suture 2.37-3.11 (2.55).

Male (Figure 251) (n = 5) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (560-650 long; 400-460 wide) ovoid with purple coloration restricted posteriorly. Anterio-medial platelets (112.5-125 long; 57.5-67.5 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (163.75-200 long; 65-80 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 300-370). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.30-1.41; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.24-1.33; anterio-medial platelet length/width 1.70-1.96; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.38-2.71; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.44-1.65.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (325-347.5 long (ventral); 244-268 long (dorsal); 92.5-106.25 tall) elongate and colorless. Rostrum (130-140 long; 40-45 wide) elongate. Chelicerae (320-353 long) with curved fangs (41-56 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 3.25-3.57; rostrum length/width 3.06-3.31. Pedipalps elongate (especially tibia) with broad, flat, dentate, and anteriorly-directed ventral extensions on femora and broadly tuberculate, dentate ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (35-37.5 long); femur (100-107.5 long); genu (67.5-75 long); tibia (82.5-92.5 long; 20-23.75 wide); tarsus (12.5-17.5 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.43-1.48; tibia/femur 0.80-0.88; tibia length/width 3.67-4.13.

Venter - (720-790 long; 450-517 wide) mostly colorless with areas of purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (95-105 long; 65-77.5 wide). Cxgl-4 far from apex. Medial suture (120-147.5 long). Genital plates (132.5-142.5 long; 110-122.5 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (232-264 long (total); 138-183 long (medial)); Cx-3 (285-315 wide); anterior venter (305-325 long) elongate. Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.27-1.54; anterior venter/genital field length 2.21-2.34; anterior venter length/genital field width 2.57-2.82; anterior venter/medial suture 2.18-2.54.

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Marshall (1943) did not specify an etymology for this specific epithet ( tahoei ).It surely refers to the collection locality of the paratype, Taylor’s Creek near Lake Tahoe, California, although the holotype was collected from Waddell Creek near the coast.

Distribution.

Western, but not known from the southwest (Figure 249). T. tahoei was originally reported only from a few localities in California; we expand its known range into Oregon and Washington, and the Rocky Mountains.

Remarks.

Torrenticola tahoei groups with members of the Miniforma Complex with high support in all analyses. There is considerable genetic variability within this species (0-3.8%), particularly between specimens from California and those from elsewhere. However, we find no morphological characters to support California specimens being recognized as a separate species, so we consider them all one widely distributed species.

This species is so distinct and recognizable from all other species that we do not place it within an identification group. It is greater than 11.6% different in COI sequence from other members of the Miniforma group.

This species hypothesis is supported by high divergence between species (3-15%) and by the morphological characters outlined in the diagnosis.