Torrenticola daemon 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 daemon Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, Alabama, Clay County, beside Forest Route 649, 0.8 km northeast of road from Campbell Springs to Forest Route 600, (33°22'22"N, 85°52'52"W), 3 July 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900075A.

PARATYPES (4 ♀; 4 ♂): Alabama, USA: 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Clay County, beside Forest Route 649, 0.8 km northeast of road from Campbell Springs to Forest Route 600, (33°22'22"N, 85°52'52"W), 3 July 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900075A • 4 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Clay County, beside Forest Route 649, 0.8 km northeast of road from Campbell Springs to Forest Route 600, (33°22'22"N, 85°52'52"W), 3 July 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900075A

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and some paratypes (2 ♀; 2 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (2 ♀; 1 ♂) deposited in the ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola daemon are similar to other members of the Raptor Group ( T. danielleae , T. elusiva , T. gnoma , T. irapalpa , T. ivyae , T. longitibia , T. mjolniri , T. racupalpa , and T. raptor ) in having round bodies; Dgl-4 close to muscles scars; long, thin subcapitular rostra; and long, thin pedipalp tibiae. T. daemon can be differentiated from all other Raptor Group by having Dgl-4 closer to the edge of the dorsum (dorsum width/distance between Dgl-4 ♀ = 1.59-1.67 in T. daemon , 1.80-3.29 in others; ♂ = 1.45-1.65 in T. daemon , 1.66-2.73 in others), except T. irapalpa (♀ = 1.81-2.09, ♂ = 1.58-1.86) and T. danielleae (♀ = 1.57-1.70, ♂ = 1.42-1.52). T. daemon can be differentiated from T. longitibia , T. mjolniri , T. elusiva , T. racupalpa , T. raptor , T. danielleae , and T. ivyae by having a less elongate rostrum (length/width = 2.91-3.31 in T. daemon , 3.43-4.40 in others). Female T. daemon can be differentiated from female T. irapalpa by having Dgl-4 closer to the dorsal edge (dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 ♀ = 1.59-1.67 in T. daemon , 1.81-2.09 in T. irapalpa ) and a more elongate gnathosomal bay (length/width ♀ = 1.95-2.42 in T. daemon , 1.35-1.86 in T. irapalpa ). Additionally, T. daemon can be differentiated from T. irapalpa by dorsal coloration and pattern.

Description.

Female (Figure 45) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (590-655 (640) long; 460-500 (490) wide) circular with faint reddish-purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, with bright reddish-purple coloration on the anterior-medial platelets, occasionally extending onto the dorsal plate. Anterio-medial platelets (127.5-147.5 (145) long; 57.5-67.5 (65) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (182.5-210 (210) long; 72.5-82.5 (82.5) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 approximately halfway between the edge of the dorsum and the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 285-300 (300)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.26-1.34 (1.31); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.59-1.67 (1.63); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.04-2.28 (2.23); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.28-2.66 (2.55); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.29-1.51 (1.45).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (370-395 (395) long (ventral); 285-300 (300) long (dorsal); 145-157.5 (157.5) tall) colorless, occasionally with faint reddish-purple coloration. Rostrum (155-165 (165) long; 50-55 (55) wide). Chelicerae (375-390 (390) long) with curved fangs (65-75 (75) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.39-2.57 (2.51); rostrum length/width 2.91-3.20 (3.00). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (50-52.5 (50) long); femur (137.5-146.25 (145) long); genu (75-80 (80) long); tibia (97.5-105 (105) long; 22.5-25 (25) wide); tarsus (20-22.5 (20) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.81-1.90 (1.81); tibia/femur 0.67-0.72 (0.72); tibia length/width 4.05-4.33 (4.20).

Venter - (710-800 (800) long; 515-570 (545) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (182.5-200 (190) long; 80-97.5 (97.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (10-15 (15) long). Genital plates (160-175 (175) long; 145-150 (150) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (310-345 (345) long (total); 125-155 (155) long (medial)); Cx-3 (350-375 (375) wide); anterior venter (155-185 (185) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.95-2.42 (1.95); anterior venter/genital field length 0.97-1.09 (1.06); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.07-1.23 (1.23); anterior venter/medial suture 10.33-17.50 (12.33).

Male (Figure 46) (n = 4) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (545-570 (570) long; 410-425 (425) wide) circular with faint reddish-purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions. Anterio-medial platelets (115-125 (122.5) long; 52.5-58.75 (58.75) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (175-188.75 (188.75) long; 67.5-75 (75) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 approximately halfway between the edge of the dorsum and the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 255-290 (275)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.31-1.34 (1.34); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.45-1.65 (1.55); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.09-2.22 (2.09); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.50-2.78 (2.52); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.40-1.63 (1.54).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (320-335 (335) long (ventral); 247.5-255 (255) long (dorsal); 120-122.5 (120) tall) colorless, occasionally with faint reddish-purple coloration. Rostrum (132.5-137.5 (137.5) long; 40-45 (45) wide). Chelicerae (310-330 (330) long) with curved fangs (60-65 (60) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.67-2.79 (2.79); rostrum length/width 3.06-3.31 (3.06). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (42.5-46.25 (45) long); femur (117.5-122.5 (120) long); genu (67.5-70 (67.5) long); tibia (90-92.5 (91.25) long; 21.25-22.5 (22.5) wide); tarsus (20-20 (20) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.74-1.78 (1.78); tibia/femur 0.76-0.77 (0.76); tibia length/width 4.00-4.35 (4.06).

Venter - (655-705 (705) long; 460-470 (470) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (165-165 (165) long; 70-80 (75) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (50-55 (55) long). Genital plates (145-155 (155) long; 115-120 (120) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (290-315 (290) long (total); 130-150 (130) long (medial)); Cx-3 (320-340 (340) wide); anterior venter (210-225 (225) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 2.06-2.36 (2.20); anterior venter/genital field length 1.42-1.55 (1.45); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.75-1.91 (1.88); anterior venter/medial suture 4.00-4.20 (4.09).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( daemon ) refers to the diagnostic red coloration on the anterio-medial platelets, which resemble the red eyes of an evil demon (daemon, L. originally benevolent or benign nature spirits, but were characterized as dangerous or evil by the writings of Plato and later used in Christian literature, popularizing the idea of demons as evil; noun in apposition).

Distribution.

Alabama (Figure 44).

Remarks.

Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire fresh material of Torrenticola daemon and therefore this species is not included in our phylogenetic analyses. However, we were able to examine morphology with material preserved in GAW. The overall appearance, elongate subcapitular rostra, elongate pedipalpal tibiae, and Dgl-4 close to the muscle scars, are consistent with placing this species in the Raptor Complex and Raptor Identification Group.