Torrenticola bittikoferae Crowell, 1960

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 bittikoferae Crowell, 1960

T. bittikoferae : Crowell 1960: 36; 1961: 330 • Johnston 1965: 44 • Modlin and Gannon 1973: 219, 221 • Viets 1987: 756.

Material examined.

PARATYPES (0 ♀; 2 ♂): Ohio, USA: 2 ♂ from Ottawa County, Middle Bass Island, rubble beach, 29 June 1954, by R Crowell.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀) and some paratypes (unspecified number) deposited in the Chicago Natural History Museum (unexamined; types not located); other paratypes (2 ♂) deposited in the OSUAC.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola bittikoferae are similar to other members of the Tricolor Group ( T. cardia , T. dimorpha , T. hoosieri , T. kringi , T. larvata , T. mohawk , T. olliei , T. pearsoni , T. sierrensis , T. tricolor , T. trimaculata , and T. unimaculata ) in having a short, conical rostrum. Torrenticola bittikoferae can be differentiated from most other Tricolor Complex (except T. hoosieri , T. pearsoni , and T. dimorpha ) by being colorless, whereas most other members have bold patterning. T. bittikoferae can be differentiated from T. hoosieri by having ventral extensions on the pedipalp femora and genua (lacking in T. hoosieri ) and having stockier pedipalp tibiae (length/width = 2.7-2.8 in T. bittikoferae , 3.6-4.4 in T. hoosieri ). T. bittikoferae can be differentiated from T. pearsoni by having Dgl-4 further from the dorsal edge (dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 = 1.6-1.7 in T. bittikoferae , 1.2-1.3 in T. pearsoni ); stockier pedipalp tibiae (length/width = 2.7-2.8 in T. bittikoferae , 3.0-3.3 in T. pearsoni ); and a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 1.8-1.9 in T. bittikoferae , 2.0-2.4 in T. pearsoni ). Torrenticola bittikoferae can be differentiated from T. dimorpha by having an unmodified dorsal plate ( T. dimorpha has a dorsal plate medial extension covering nearly half the length of the anterio-medial platelets) and by males having unmodified pedipalps (male T. dimorpha have large, highly modified pedipalps which are expanded vertically and laterally).

Re-description.

Male (Figure 28) (n = 2) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (620-670 long; 500-530 wide) circular and colorless. Anterio-medial platelets (132.5-137.5 long; 70-70 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (192.5-202.5 long; 90-92.5 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 approaching midway between muscle scars and dorsum edge (distance between Dgl-4 305-330). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.24-1.26; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.61-1.64; anterio-medial platelet length/width 1.89-1.96; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.14-2.19; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.40-1.53.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (265 long (ventral); 202.5 long (dorsal); 125 tall) colorless. Rostrum (95-100 long; 52.5-52.5 wide). Chelicerae (260 long) with curved fangs (50 long) short and conical. Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.12; rostrum length/width 1.81-1.90. Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions with dentate tip on femora and tuberculate ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (42.5-42.5 long); femur (101.25-107.5 long); genu (72.5-75 long); tibia (87.5-90 long; 32.5-32.5 wide); tarsus (25-35 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.40-1.43; tibia/femur 0.81-0.89; tibia length/width 2.69-2.77.

Venter - (790-800 long; 610-680 wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (122.5-125 long; 87.5-100 wide). Medial suture (102.5-117.5 long). Genital plates (137.5-142.5 long; 115-115 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (270-280 long (total); 152.5-152.5 long (medial)); Cx-3 (405-410 wide); anterior venter (270-287.5 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.23-1.43; anterior venter/genital field length 1.96-2.02; anterior venter length/genital field width 2.35-2.50; anterior venter/medial suture 102.5-117.5.

Female type specimens unavailable for present study.

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Robert Crowell (1960) named the specific epithet ( bittikoferae ) after Lelia Bittikofer, his high school biology teacher.

Distribution.

Known only from type locality: Lake Erie, Ohio (Figure 27).

Remarks.

Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire fresh specimens of Torrenticola bittikoferae and therefore this species was not included in our phylogenetic analyses. We were able to examine paratypes of two males, neither of which were dissected during slide preparation, making precise examination difficult. These specimens were remounted, but proper dissection risked fully damaging the specimen and was therefore avoided. The images in Figure 28 A–B that appear to display a properly dissected specimen, were created by photographing each section (dorsum and venter) of the fully intact specimen and digitally editing the photographs so that the dorsum and venter could be easily compared with other species.

The overall appearance, short conical rostrum, and distribution of this species allows us to places it within the Tricolor Complex and Tricolor Identification Group.