Torrenticola kittatinniana Habeeb, 1955

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 kittatinniana Habeeb, 1955

Torrenticola kittatinniana Habeeb, 1955: 2.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♂): from USA, New Jersey, Sussex County, Little Flatbrook, north of Bevans, 12 Oct 1953, by H Habeeb, HH530110.

PARATYPES (1 ♀ and 0 ♂): New Jersey, USA: 1 ♀ (ALLOTYPE) from Morris County, Brook, Brookside, 20 May 1953, by H Habeeb, HH530045.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀) and paratypes (1 ♀) deposited in the CNC.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola kittatinniana are similar to other members of the Rusetria “4-Plate” group ( T. dunni , T. glomerabilis , T. pollani , T. rufoalba and T. shubini ) and T. skvarlai in having anterio-lateral platelets free from the dorsal plate, dorsal coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, and indistinct hind coxal margins. Female T. kittatinniana can be differentiated from female T. dunni by having shorter pedipalpal genua (64 in T. kittatinniana , 70-75 in T. dunni ); a shorter subcapitulum (ventral length = 310 in T. kittatinniana , 330-355 in T. dunni ); and stockier anterio-medial platelets (length/width = 2.83 in T. kittatinniana , 2.33-2.54 in T. dunni ). Male T. kittatinniana can be differentiated from male T. dunni by having a shorter anterior venter (235 in T. kittatinniana , 277-285 in T. dunni ) and thinner dorsum (340 in T. kittatinniana , 350-370 in T. dunni ). T. kittatinniana can be differentiated from T. pollani by having a stockier rostrum (length/width = 2.71-3.16 in T. kittatinniana , 3.27-3.82 in T. pollani ) and stockier tibiae (length/width ♀ = 3.3 in T. kittatinniana , 3.8-4.2 in T. pollani ; ♂ = 2.80 in T. kittatinniana , 3.4-3.8 in T. pollani ). Female T. kittatinniana can be differentiated from female T. shubini by having a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.16 in T. kittatinniana , 2.5-2.7 in T. shubini ) and a shorter subcapitulum (125 in T. kittatinniana , 140-145 in T. shubini ). Male T. kittatinniana can be differentiated from male T. shubini by having a longer dorsum (500 in T. kittatinniana , 400-465 in T. shubini ) and a longer genital field (115 in T. kittatinniana , 90-108 in T. shubini ). T. kittatinniana can be differentiated from T. glomerabilis by having Dgl-4 closer to the dorsal edge (dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 = 1.2-1.4 in T. kittatinniana , 1.5-1.7 in T. glomerabilis ) and stockier tibiae (length/width ♀ = 3.3 in T. kittatinniana , 4.11-4.5 in T. glomerabilis ; ♂ = 2.8 in T. kittatinniana , 3.5-4.4 in T. glomerabilis ). T. kittatinniana can be differentiated from T. rufoalba by having a longer dorsum (♀ = 640 in T. kittatinniana , 550 in T. rufoalba ; ♂ = 500 in T. kittatinniana , 440 in T. rufoalba ) and more elongate anterio-medial platelets (length/width = 2.83-2.88 in T. kittatinniana , 2.45-2.61 in T. rufoalba ). Additionally, male T. kittatinniana have a longer anterior venter (235 in T. kittatinniana , 195 in T. rufoalba ). T. kittatinniana can be differentiated from T. skvarlai by having a conical pedipalpal femoral tubercle, whereas T. skvarlai has a broad and flat pedipalpal femoral tubercle, and by having a longer anterior venter (♀ = 165 in T. kittatinniana , 140-152.5 in T. skvarlai ; ♂ = 235 in T. kittatinniana , 177.5-205 in T. skvarlai ).

Re-description.

Female (Figure 115) (n = 1) (allotype only) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (550 long; 400 wide) ovoid with purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions bordered with orange. Anterio-medial platelets (107.5 long; 41.25 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (168.75 long; 55 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 255). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.38; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.57; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.61; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 3.07; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.57.

Gnathosoma- Subcapitulum (310 long (ventral); 235 long (dorsal); 127.5 tall) colorless. Rostrum (130 long; 42.5 wide). Chelicerae (315 long) with curved fangs (62.5 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.43; rostrum length/width 3.06. Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (42.5 long); femur (115 long); genu (65 long); tibia (87.5 long; 25 wide); tarsus (17.5 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.77; tibia/femur 0.76; tibia length/width 3.50.

Venter - (640 long; 450 wide) mostly colorless with faint purple coloration in areas surrounding coxae. Gnathosomal bay (142.5 long; 92.5 wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (17.5 long). Genital plates (167.5 long; 155 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (125 long (total); 125 long (medial)); Cx-3 (335 wide); anterior venter (155 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.54; anterior venter/genital field length 0.93; anterior venter length/genital field width 1.00; anterior venter/medial suture 8.86.

Male (Figure 116) (n = 1) (holotype only) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (500 long; 340 wide) ovoid with purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions bordered with orange. Anterio-medial platelets (90 long; 31.25 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (140 long; 47.5 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 280). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.47; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.21; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.88; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.95; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.56.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (237.5 long (ventral); 180 long (dorsal); 100 tall) colorless. Rostrum (95 long; 35 wide). Chelicerae (222.5 long) with curved fangs (45 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.38; rostrum length/width 2.71. Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (37.5 long); femur (87.5 long); genu (57.5 long); tibia (70 long; 25 wide); tarsus (17.5 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.52; tibia/femur 0.80; tibia length/width 2.80.

Venter - (600 long; 435 wide) mostly colorless with faint purple coloration in areas surrounding coxae. Gnathosomal bay (107.5 long; 72.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (102.5 long). Genital plates (115 long; 82.5 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (235 long (total); 125 long (medial)); Cx-3 (285 wide); anterior venter (235 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.48; anterior venter/genital field length 2.04; anterior venter length/genital field width 2.85; anterior venter/medial suture 2.29.

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Habeeb (1955) did not specify an explanation for the specific epithet ( kittatinniana ). However, we suspect it refers to the type locality, which is located in the Great Kittatinny Valley, which is named for Kittatinny Mountain in northwestern New Jersey, a northern extension of the Appalachian Ridge and Valley province.

Distribution.

Northern New Jersey (Figure 114).

Remarks.

Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire more specimens of Torrenticola kittatinniana and therefore this species is not included in our phylogenetic analyses. We were able to examine the type specimens. Based upon overall similarity, fusion of the posterio-lateral platelets with the dorsal plate, and distribution, this species clearly groups with other members of the Rusetria Complex and we are able to place it within the Eastern 4-Plate Identification Group.