Torrenticola glomerabilis 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 glomerabilis Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, Tennessee, Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Sugarlands Nature Trail (35°40'47"N, 83°31'51"W), 10 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100125.

PARATYPES (23 ♀; 25 ♂): Georgia, USA: 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Floyd County, beside road from Everett Spring to Villanow, 1.4 kilometers south of The Pocket Campground, tributary of Johns Creek, 4 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900077 • Kentucky, USA: 2 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Bell County, Middlesboro, near north boundary of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Sugar Run, 9 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900084 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Bell County, Pineville, Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Laurel Cove, Lower shelter Picnic Area, 9 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900083 • Pennsylvania, USA: 1 ♀ from Fayette County, Dunbar Creek (39°57'50"N, 79°35'8.70"W), 10 Aug 2014, by MJ Skvarla, MS 14-0810-001 • 1 ♀ from Huntingdon County, Alan Seeger Natural Area, beside road from McAlevys Fort to Route 322, Stone Creek, 19 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900107 • Tennessee, USA: 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Sugarlands Nature Trail (35°40'47"N, 83°31'51"W), 10 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100125 • 1 ♂ from Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Laurel Creek (35°39'7"N, 83°42'32"W), 17 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100145 • 4 ♀ and 5 ♂ from Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Sugarlands Nature Trail (35°40'47"N, 83°31'51"W), 10 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100125 • Virginia, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Alleghany County, Clifton Forge, beside Route 606, 1.2 kilometers southeast of Forest Route 125, Smith Creek, 13 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900093 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Alleghany County, Longdale Furnace, beside Forest Route 108, 1.7 kilometers west of Route 850, Simpson Creek, 14 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900094 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Amherst County, Upper Otter Creek Overlook beside Blue Ridge, Otter Creek (37°36'57"N, 79°19'27"W), 7 Sep 2007, by IM Smith, IMS070056A • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Augusta County, beside Forest Road 42, 15.9 kilometers east of Vesuvius, Coles Run, 26 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900060 • 2 ♂ from Bath County, beside Forest Route 1744 at Route 39, between Warm Springs and Mountain Grove, O’Roarke Draw, 15 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900098 • 1 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Bath County, beside Forest Route 364, off Route 39 east of Warm Springs, Panther Run, 15 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900099 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Giles County, Mechanicsburg, beside Dismal Creek Road, Standrock Brook (37°11'38"N, 80°53'26"W), 9 Sep 2005, by IM Smith, IMS050066 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Giles County, Mechanicsburg, beside Dismal Creek Road, Standrock Brook (37°11'38"N, 80°53'26"W), 11 Jul 1990, IMS900088 • 3 ♂ from Montgomery County, Blacksburg, beside Route 621 at Caldwell Fields Campground, Craig Creek (37°20'N, 80°20'W), 12 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900089A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Page County, beside Route 730, 0.2 kilometers west of Route 675, Passage Creek, 25 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900059 • 1 ♀ from Rock Bridge County, Vesuvius, beside Route 56, 2.2 kilometers west of Blue Ridge Parkway, Little Marys Creek, 26 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900062.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and most paratypes (18 ♀; 19 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (5 ♀; 5 ♂) deposited in the ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola glomerabilis are similar to other members of the Rusetria “4-Plate” 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. glomerabilis can be differentiated from T. dunni , T. shubini , T. kittatinniana , by having Dgl-4 closer to the dorsal edge (dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 = 1.53-1.66 in T. glomerabilis , 1.20-1.42 in others) and stockier tibiae (length/width ♀ = 4.11-4.50 in T. glomerabilis , 3.27-3.60 in others; ♂ = 3.55-4.38 in T. glomerabilis , 2.80-3.45 in others). T. glomerabilis can be differentiated from T. pollani and T. rufoalba by having stockier anterio-medial platelets (length/width ♀ = 1.9-2.3 in T. glomerabilis , 2.5-3.0 in others; ♂ = 1.9-2.2 in T. glomerabilis , 2.3-2.9 in others) and wider dorsum (♀ = 460-490 in T. glomerabilis , 400-420 in others; ♂ = 395-430 in T. glomerabilis , 310-340 in others). T. glomerabilis 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 (♀ = 202-213 in T. glomerabilis , 140-153 in T. skvarlai ; ♂ = 240-280 in T. glomerabilis , 177-205 in T. skvarlai ).

Description.

Female (Figure 85) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (580-615 (605) long; 460-490 (475) wide) circular with bold bluish-purple or reddish-purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions. Anterio-medial platelets (125-132.5 (132.5) long; 55-65 (60) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (172.5-195 (180) long; 70-82.5 (82.5) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 approaching midway between muscle scars and dorsum edge (distance between Dgl-4 280-310 (310)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.23-1.32 (1.27); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.53-1.66 (1.53); anterio-medial platelet length/width 1.96-2.27 (2.21); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.17-2.48 (2.18); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.36-1.53 (1.36).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (320-330 (320) long (ventral); 223-243 (223) long (dorsal); 112.5-120 (117.5) tall) colorless. Rostrum (132.5-137.5 (132.5) long; 40-47.5 (40) wide). Chelicerae (320-330 (321) long) with curved fangs (50-55 (53) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.72-2.89 (2.72); rostrum length/width 2.89-3.34 (3.31). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (37.5-42.5 (40) long); femur (112.5-117.5 (116.25) long); genu (67.5-70 (67.5) long); tibia (88.75-95 (88.75) long; 20-22.5 (20) wide); tarsus (17.5-17.5 (17.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.67-1.74 (1.72); tibia/femur 0.76-0.83 (0.76); tibia length/width 4.11-4.50 (4.44).

Venter - (710-730 (730) long; 512-550 (513) wide) bold bluish-purple or reddish-purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (130-155 (155) long; 72.5-95 (72.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (22.5-50 (27.5) long). Genital plates (167.5-177.5 (175) long; 150-157.5 (157.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (276-305 (291) long (total); 122-160 (149) long (medial)); Cx-3 (320-370 (321) wide); anterior venter (202.5-212.5 (202.5) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.37-2.14 (2.14); anterior venter/genital field length 1.14-1.24 (1.16); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.29-1.40 (1.29); anterior venter/medial suture 4.15-9.00 (7.36).

Male (Figure 86) (n = 6) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum- (495-575 (530) long; 395-430 (420) wide) circular with bold bluish-purple or reddish-purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions. Anterio-medial platelets (112.5-120 (120) long; 52.5-60 (55) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (165-187.5 (167.5) long; 60-67.5 (60) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 approaching midway between muscle scars and dorsum edge (distance between Dgl-4 235-280 (275)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.25-1.34 (1.26); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.50-1.68 (1.53); anterio-medial platelet length/width 1.96-2.18 (2.18); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.54-2.88 (2.79); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.40-1.67 (1.40).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (260-297.5 (290) long (ventral); 188-225 (212.5) long (dorsal); 93.75-103.75 (93.75) tall) colorless. Rostrum (105-120 (120) long; 35-40 (35) wide). Chelicerae (249-298 (285) long) with curved fangs (40-50 (50) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.77-3.09 (3.09); rostrum length/width 2.80-3.43 (3.43). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (35-35 (35) long); femur (95-105 (102.5) long); genu (57.5-65 (60) long); tibia (80-88.75 (82.5) long; 20-25 (20) wide); tarsus (15-17.5 (15) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.58-1.71 (1.71); tibia/femur 0.80-0.87 (0.80); tibia length/width 3.55-4.38 (4.13).

Venter - (600-690 (670) long; 443-540 (460) wide) bold bluish-purple or reddish-purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (107.5-135 (132.5) long; 70-80 (70) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (85-107.5 (92.5) long). Genital plates (135-147.5 (140) long; 110-120 (117.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (224-280 (280) long (total); 88-160 (150) long (medial)); Cx-3 (292-342 (300) wide); anterior venter (240-280 (260) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.48-1.93 (1.89); anterior venter/genital field length 1.78-1.90 (1.86); anterior venter length/genital field width 2.13-2.41 (2.21); anterior venter/medial suture 2.47-2.87 (2.81).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( glomerabilis ) refers to the rounded body of this species compared to all other members of the Rusetria Complex (glomerabilis, L. round).

Distribution.

Appalachians (Figure 84).

Remarks.

Torrenticola glomerabilis groups with 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. glomerabilis groups with two other species, T. delicatexa and T. ululata , which are 10-13% different from each other. Of these species, T. glomerabilis is the only one with the lateral platelets free from the dorsal plate. Because of this, we place T. glomerabilis within the Eastern 4-Plate Identification Group, which can be differentiated by having rounder bodies than any other species in the Rusetria Complex.

Torrenticola glomerabilis occupy an interesting position phylogenetically by being nested between the Eastern 2-Plate and Eastern 4-Plate Identification Groups (Figure 6, 12). Their unique shape and interesting phylogenetic affinity flag this species as important to future studies on the evolution of eastern members of the Rusetria Complex.

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