Torrenticola lamellipalpis K.O. Viets, 1977

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 lamellipalpis K.O. Viets, 1977

Torrenticola lamellipalpis K.O. Viets, 1977b: 534.

Material examined

(5 ♀; 4 ♂). New Mexico, USA: 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Catron County, beside Rt. 15, 65 km north of Rt. 180 (Silver City), (33°12'12"N, 108°13'13"W), 10 July 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870081A • 2 ♀ from Catron County, beside Rt. 15 just below mouth of Little Creek, (33°12'12"N, 108°13'13"W), 11 July 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870083A • 2 ♂ from Catron County, Glenwood; Whitewater Picnic Area 8 km east of Rt. 180, (33°22'22"N, 108°50'50"W), 12 July 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870084 • 1 ♀ from Grant County, Gila River Recreation Area beside Rt. 15 at Grapevine Recreation Area north of Silver City, (33°11'11"N, 108°12'12"W), 11 July 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870082B.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀) and allotype (♂) deposited in coll. Kurt Otto Viets, Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt, Germany.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola lamellipalpis are similar to other members of the Rala Group ( T. rala , T. keesdavidsi , T. boettgeri , T. kurtvietsi , T. dolichodactyla , and T. anoplopalpa ) by being colorless, having incomplete hind coxal margins and being distributed in the southwest. T. lamellipalpis can be differentiated from all other Rala Group by having a wide, prominent lamellate extension on the pedipalpal femora that extend to the genua (others either without extensions or with tuberculate or flanged, dentate extensions).

Re-description.

Female (Figure 124) (n = 5) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (660-735 long; 425-490 wide) ovoid and colorless. Anterio-medial platelets (162.5-175 long; 55-57.5 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (205-225 long; 65-75 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 355-370). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.46-1.60; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.20-1.32; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.87-3.05; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.80-3.35; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.17-1.36.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (440-465 long (ventral); 330-350 long (dorsal); 125-135 tall) colorless. Rostrum (175-187.5 long; 55-60 wide). Chelicerae (390-420 long) with curved fangs (60-65 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 3.38-3.52; rostrum length/width 3.00-3.41. Pedipalps with wide, prominent lamellate extensions on femora that extends halfway into the genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (55-60 long); femur (145-152.5 long); genu (75-77.5 long); tibia (97.5-102.5 long; 22.5-23.75 wide); tarsus (17.5-20 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.90-1.97; tibia/femur 0.66-0.69; tibia length/width 4.32-4.56.

Venter - (815-930 long; 500-560 wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (180-195 long; 80-100 wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (35-45 long). Genital plates (185-195 long; 155-165 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (380-390 long (total); 190-200 long (medial)); Cx-3 (350-365 wide); anterior venter (240-260 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.90-2.31; anterior venter/genital field length 1.23-1.38; anterior venter length/genital field width 1.48-1.65; anterior venter/medial suture 5.67-6.86.

Male (Figure 125) (n = 4) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (620-680 long; 400-460 wide) ovoid and colorless. Anterio-medial platelets (147.5-165 long; 52.5-57.5 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (195-217.5 long; 70-77.5 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 320-360). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.48-1.58; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.25-1.28; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.77-3.14; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.69-3.04; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.28-1.32.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (392.5-427.5 long (ventral); 292.5-325 long (dorsal); 112.5-127.5 tall) colorless. Rostrum (155-170 long; 50-55 wide). Chelicerae (350-390 long) with curved fangs (55-55 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 3.29-3.56; rostrum length/width 3.09-3.24. Pedipalps with wide, prominent lamellate extensions on femora that extends halfway into the genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (51.25-55 long); femur (130-135 long); genu (70-77.5 long); tibia (97.5-105 long; 20-22.5 wide); tarsus (17.5-20 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.74-1.86; tibia/femur 0.74-0.79; tibia length/width 4.67-4.94.

Venter - (780-840 long; 450-520 wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (170-195 long; 80-90 wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (110-130 long). Genital plates (160-180 long; 107.5-127.5 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (335-370 long (total); 170-185 long (medial)); Cx-3 (325-375 wide); anterior venter (295-325 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 2.00-2.29; anterior venter/genital field length 1.75-1.86; anterior venter length/genital field width 2.47-2.83; anterior venter/medial suture 2.42-2.83.

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Viets (1977b) named the specific epithet ( lamellipalpis ) in reference to the "extensive ventral lamella" on the pedipalp femora ( lāmella, L. small plate or flake; palpus, L. hand, feeler).

Distribution.

Southwestern New Mexico (probably also found in southeastern Arizona), extending southward into Guatemala (Figure 123).

Remarks.

Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire fresh material of Torrenticola lamellipalpis and therefore this species is not included in our phylogenetic analyses. We were also unable to examine type material. However, we were able to examine new material from New Mexico. Based upon overall appearance, incomplete hind coxal margins, distribution, and lack of coloration, we were able to place this species within our concept of the Rala Identification Group.