Torrenticola dunni Fisher & Dowling

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 dunni Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

Type series. HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, Tennessee, Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Cosby Recreation Area (35°46'54"N, 83°13'2"W), 16 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100140, DNA 1289.

PARATYPES (9 ♀; 5 ♂): North Carolina, USA: 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Haywood County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Rough Fork Creek (35°37'31"N, 83°6'46"W), 20 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100148 • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Haywood County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Rough Fork Creek (35°37'31"N, 83°6'46"W), 20 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100148 • 1 ♀ from Haywood County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Waterville (35°44'59"N, 83°6'42"W), 16 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100138 • South Carolina, USA: 2 ♀ from Greenville County, Matthews Creek, 24 Apr 2014, by D Eargle, JRF 14-0424-001 • Tennessee, USA: 1 ♀ from Blount County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Abrams River (35°35'31"N, 83°51'21"W), 17 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100141 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park (35°40'47"N, 83°31'48"W), 3 Sep 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090096 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park (35°43'33"N, 83°24'1"W), 12 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100131 • Virginia, USA: 1 ♀ from Smyth County, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, beside Route 600, Little Laurel Creek, 10 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900086.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and most paratypes (4 ♀; 2 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (5 ♀; 2 ♂) deposited in the ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola dunni are similar to other members of the Rusetria “4-Plates” group ( T. dunni , T. glomerabilis , T. kittatinniana , 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. T. dunni can be differentiated from T. pollani by having a larger dorsum (length ♀ = 605-680 in T. dunni , 535-560 in T. pollani ; ♂ = 500-540 in T. dunni , 440-492 in T. pollani ; width ♀ = 440-490 in T. dunni , 410-420 in T. pollani ; ♂ = 350-370 in T. dunni , 310-340 in T. pollani ); and a stockier rostrum (length/width = 2.80-3.14 in T. dunni , 3.27-3.82 in T. pollani ). Female T. dunni can be differentiated from female T. shubini by having a thinner rostrum (length/width = 2.8-3.0 in T. dunni , 2.5-2.7 in T. shubini ). Male T. dunni can be differentiated from male T. shubini by having a longer anterior venter (277-285 in T. dunni , 215-238 in T. shubini ). T. dunni 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. dunni , 1.5-1.7 in T. glomerabilis ) and stockier tibiae (length/width ♀ = 3.27-3.50 in T. dunni , 4.11-4.50 in T. glomerabilis , ♂ = 3.25-3.44 in T. dunni , 3.55-4.38 in T. glomerabilis ). Female T. dunni can be differentiated from female T. kittatinniana by having a longer pedipalp genu (70-75 in T. dunni , 64 in T. kittatinniana ); a longer subcapitulum (ventral length = 330-355 in T. dunni , 310 in T. kittatinniana ); and anterio-medial platelets more elongate (length/width = 2.33-2.54 in T. dunni , 2.83 in T. kittatinniana ). Male T. dunni can be differentiated from male T. kittatinniana by having a longer anterior venter (277-285 in T. dunni , 235 in T. kittatinniana ) and wider dorsum (350-370 in T. dunni , 340 in T. kittatinniana ). T. dunni can be differentiated from T. rufoalba by having a larger dorsum (length ♀ = 605-680 in T. dunni , 550 in T. rufoalba ; ♂ = 500-540 in T. dunni , 440 in T. rufoalba ; width ♀ = 440-490 in T. dunni , 400 in T. rufoalba ; ♂ = 350-370 in T. dunni ; 320 in T. rufoalba ). T. dunni 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 (♀ = 160-190 in T. dunni , 140-152.5 in T. skvarlai ; ♂ = 277.5-285 in T. dunni , 177.5-205 in T. skvarlai ).

Description.

Female (Figure 62) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum- (605-680 (655) long; 440-490 (460) wide) ovoid with purple or reddish-purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, and occasionally with faint orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (117.5-125 (125) long; 46.25-52.5 (50) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (172.5-197.5 (192.5) long; 62.5-68.75 (62.5) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 315-380 (340)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.37-1.42 (1.42); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.29-1.40 (1.35); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.33-2.54 (2.50); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.76-3.08 (3.08); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.44-1.61 (1.54).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (330-355 (345) long (ventral); 250-265 (255) long (dorsal); 132.5-150 (150) tall) colorless. Rostrum (130-140 (135) long; 45-50 (45) wide). Chelicerae (325-355 (350) long) with curved fangs (60-65 (60) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.30-2.53 (2.30); rostrum length/width 2.80-3.00 (3.00). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (42.5-50 (48.75) long); femur (117.5-132.5 (131.25) long); genu (70-75 (75) long); tibia (85-95 (90) long; 25-27.5 (27.5) wide); tarsus (20-20 (20) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.68-1.83 (1.75); tibia/femur 0.69-0.72 (0.69); tibia length/width 3.27-3.50 (3.27).

Venter - (710-810 (780) long; 540-600 (600) wide) with faint bluish-purple or reddish purple coloration or colorless. Gnathosomal bay (157.5-175 (175) long; 92.5-115 (115) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (20-25 (20) long). Genital plates (160-185 (177.5) long; 145-160 (152.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (290-330 (330) long (total); 140-160 (155) long (medial)); Cx-3 (365-410 (400) wide); anterior venter (160-190 (190) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.50-1.70 (1.52); anterior venter/genital field length 0.99-1.07 (1.07); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.08-1.25 (1.25); anterior venter/medial suture 7.60-9.50 (9.50).

Male (Figure 63) (n = 5) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (500-540 (540) long; 350-370 (360) wide) ovoid with purple or reddish-purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, and occasionally with faint orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (95-102.5 (100) long; 37.5-42.5 (41.25) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (165-172.5 (172.5) long; 55-60 (55) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 265-295 (285)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.35-1.53 (1.50); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.24-1.32 (1.26); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.41-2.56 (2.42); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.88-3.14 (3.14); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.66-1.74 (1.73).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (275-285 (285) long (ventral); 205-215 (215) long (dorsal); 102.5-115 (105) tall) colorless. Rostrum (105-112.5 (110) long; 35-38.75 (35) wide). Chelicerae (265-280 (275) long) with curved fangs (50-55 (52.5) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.43-2.71 (2.71); rostrum length/width 2.90-3.14 (3.14). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (40-47.5 (40) long); femur (105-107.5 (107.5) long); genu (62.5-66.25 (65) long); tibia 77.5-85 (77.5) long; 22.5-25 (22.5) wide); tarsus (17.5-20 (20) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.58-1.72 (1.65); tibia/femur 0.72-0.79 (0.72); tibia length/width 3.25-3.44 (3.44).

Venter - (640-660 (655) long; 440-470 (460) wide) with faint bluish-purple or reddish purple coloration or colorless. Gnathosomal bay (125-135 (130) long; 75-82.5 (82.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (120-135 (125) long). Genital plates (130-137.5 (135) long; 85-90 (87.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (260-275 (275) long (total); 135-145 (145) long (medial)); Cx-3 (330-350 (335) wide); anterior venter (277.5-285 (285) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.56-1.80 (1.58); anterior venter/genital field length 2.04-2.19 (2.11); anterior venter length/genital field width 3.11-3.35 (3.26); anterior venter/medial suture 2.06-2.33 (2.28).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( dunni ) named in honor of Rob Dunn of North Carolina State University, for his exceptional writings and research that personalize ecology by bringing nature indoors; and particularly for his storytelling ability, in which he wonderfully conveys that we humans, rather than being separate from nature, are indeed just as wild as what we perceive outdoors-a sentiment exemplified by his book, Wild Life of Our Bodies: Predators, Parasites , and Partners That Shape Who We Are Today (2011).

Distribution.

Southeastern Appalachians (Figure 61).

Remarks.

In all analyses, Torrenticola dunni groups with two other members of the Rusetria Complex with high support and specimens are less than 1% different in COI sequence from each other. In all analyses, T. dunni groups with two other species: T. pollani and T. shubini . These species are greater than 5% different from each other in COI sequence and the ranges of T. T. dunni overlaps with T. shubini , but the ranges of these species do not overlap with T. pollani . Given our collection efforts across the Appalachians, it is reasonable to speculate that T. dunni is restricted to the southern Appalachians.

Based upon overall similarity, dorso-lateral platelet fusion, and distribution, we were able to place this species within the Eastern 2-Plate Identification Group

This species hypothesis is supported by biogeography, low COI divergence within the species (0-2%) and high divergence between species (3-15%), and by the morphological characters outlined in the diagnosis.