Torrenticola kringi 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 kringi Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, Texas, Tyler County, Spurger; beside Farm Road 1013, 8.2 km west of Rt. 92, (30°41'41"N, 94°15'15"W), 30 September 1994, by IM Smith, IMS940027A.

PARATYPES (4 ♀; 5 ♂): Texas, USA: 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Tyler County, Spurger; beside Farm Road 1013, 8.2 km west of Rt. 92, (30°41'41"N, 94°15'15"W), 30 September 1994, by IM Smith, IMS940027A • 4 ♀ and 4 ♂ from Tyler, Spurger; beside Farm Road 1013, 8.2 km west of Rt. 92, (30°41'41"N, 94°15'15"W), 30 September 1994, by IM Smith, IMS940027A.

Type deposition.

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

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola kringi are similar to other members of the Tricolor Complex ( T. bittikoferae , T. hoosieri , T. larvata , T. pearsoni , T. olliei , T. sierrensis , T. tricolor , T. trimaculata , T. unimaculata , T. cardia , T. dimorpha , and T. mohawk ) in having a short, conical rostrum. T. kringi can be differentiated from most Torrenticola , including other members of the Tricolor Complex, by having a distinct dorsal pattern of a large anterior dorsal spot. The only other species with this pattern is T. ululata , which, like all Rusetria 2-Plates, have anterio-lateral platelets fused to the dorsal plate and T. unimaculata , which has a stockier rostrum (length/width = 2.6-3.2 in T. kringi , 1.9-2.2 in T. unimaculata ). T. kringi are most similar to other members of the Tricolor Complex that have bold patterning ( T. larvata , T. tricolor , T. trimaculata , T. unimaculata , T. cardia , and T. mohawk ). T. kringi can be further differentiated from all other members of the Tricolor Complex by having a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 2.67-3.13 in T. kringi , 1.29-2.59).

Description.

Female (Figure 118) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (550-580 (580) long; 460-500 (490) wide) circular with coloration restricted to a single dark spot anteriorly (occasionally extending medially), with an orange spot posterior to the dark spot. Anterio-medial platelets (125-145 (145) long; 60-70 (70) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (160-185 (185) long; 65-75 (75) wide) free to dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 335-365 (350)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.15-1.20 (1.18); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.26-1.46 (1.40); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.00-2.25 (2.07); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.29-2.69 (2.47); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.19-1.40 (1.28).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (290-302.5 (300) long (ventral); 215-227.5 (227.5) long (dorsal); 117.5-125 (125) tall) colorless. Rostrum (120-130 (125) long; 40-45 (42.5) wide). Chelicerae (275-300 (290) long) with curved fangs (50-55 (50) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.34-2.47 (2.40); rostrum length/width 2.67-3.13 (2.94). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (40-42.5 (41.25) long); femur (107.5-112.5 (112.5) long); genu (72.5-77.5 (77.5) long); tibia (91.25-97.5 (96.25) long; 27.5-28.75 (28.75) wide); tarsus (25-26.25 (25) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.43-1.48 (1.45); tibia/femur 0.85-0.89 (0.86); tibia length/width 3.32-3.55 (3.35).

Venter - (630-690 (680) long; 500-530 (525) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (132.5-152.5 (145) long; 75-82.5 (82.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (22.5-30 (30) long). Genital plates (165-180 (180) long; 150-160 (160) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (240-270 (270) long (total); 110-130 (130) long (medial)); Cx-3 (320-345 (345) wide); anterior venter (145-170 (170) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.67-1.94 (1.76); anterior venter/genital field length 0.85-0.97 (0.94); anterior venter length/genital field width 0.92-1.07 (1.06); anterior venter/medial suture 5.17-6.44 (5.67).

Male (Figure 119) (n = 5) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (480-560 (510) long; 395-465 (420) wide) circular with coloration restricted to a single dark spot anteriorly (occasionally extending medially), with an orange spot posterior to the dark spot. Anterio-medial platelets (110-130 (117.5) long; 52.5-65 (57.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (140-170 (150) long; 50-75 (60) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 285-350 (315)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.19-1.30 (1.21); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.29-1.39 (1.33); anterio-medial platelet length/width 1.96-2.27 (2.04); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.27-2.80 (2.50); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.27-1.31 (1.28).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (240-275 (260) long (ventral); 177.5-210 (195) long (dorsal); 90-105 (100) tall) colorless. Rostrum (100-115 (110) long; 35-40 (37.5) wide). Chelicerae (225-270 (260) long) with curved fangs (45-50 (50) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.55-2.75 (2.60); rostrum length/width 2.81-2.93 (2.93). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (35-38.75 (37.5) long); femur (85-101.25 (97.5) long); genu (60-71.25 (67.5) long); tibia (70-82.5 (77.5) long; 23.75-27.5 (26.25) wide); tarsus (22.5-25 (23.75) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.36-1.44 (1.44); tibia/femur 0.79-0.87 (0.79); tibia length/width 2.95-3.14 (2.95).

Venter - (590-695 (640) long; 440-510 (470) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (100-130 (115) long; 62.5-77.5 (75) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (85-100 (85) long). Genital plates (115-130 (125) long; 95-105 (100) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (220-270 (250) long (total); 120-150 (145) long (medial)); Cx-3 (275-325 (305) wide); anterior venter (220-255 (240) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.53-1.79 (1.53); anterior venter/genital field length 1.87-1.96 (1.92); anterior venter length/genital field width 2.32-2.43 (2.40); anterior venter/medial suture 2.44-2.83 (2.82).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( kringi ) named in honor of Tim Kring, Department Head of Entomology at Virginia Tech, who was a member of JRF’s Ph.D. committee. His friendship, humor, advice, and student-focused approach has been a great influence to JRF.

Distribution.

Eastern Texas (Figure 117).

Remarks.

Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire fresh material of Torrenticola kringi 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 similarity, conical rostrum that is downturned in males, and distribution, are consistent with placing this species in the Tricolor Complex and among eastern members of the Tricolor Identification Group.