Torrenticola priapus 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 priapus 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 (5 ♀; 5 ♂): New Hampshire, USA: 4 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Woodstock County, beside Rt. 118, 3.2 km south of Rt. 112, (44°0'0"N, 71°45'45"W), 11 September 1992, by IM Smith, IMS920036 • 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 • 1 ♀ and 3 ♂ 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

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and some paratypes (3 ♀; 2 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (2 ♀; 2 ♂) deposited in the ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola priapus are similar to other members of the Partial 2-Plate Group ( T. folkertsae , T. magnexa , and T. pulchra ) in having anterio-lateral platelets partially fused to the dorsal plate and being distributed in the east. T. priapus can be differentiated from T. magnexa and T. pulchra by dorsal coloration and pattern. T. priapus can be further differentiated from T. magnexa by having a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.17-3.39 in T. priapus , 2.25-3.00 in T. magnexa ). T. priapus can be further differentiated from T. pulchra by having a round dorsum (length/width = 1.18-1.22 in T. priapus , 1.4-1.61 in T. pulchra ) and more elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width ♀ = 3.9-4.22 in T. priapus , 3.3-3.70 in T. pulchra , ♂ = 3.5-3.78 in T. priapus , 3.00-3.35 in T. pulchra ). T. priapus can be differentiated from T. folkertsae by having less elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width ♀ = 3.9-4.22 in T. priapus , 4.5-4.83 in T. folkertsae , ♂ = 3.5-3.78 in T. priapus , 4.05-4.33 in T. folkertsae ) and a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.17-3.39 in T. priapus , 2.55-3.00 in T. folkertsae ).

Description.

Female (Figure 197) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (610-690 (650) long; 510-580 (540) wide) circular with purple coloration posteriorly and anteriorly connected medially but not extending to platelets. Anterio-medial platelets (150-170 (162.5) long; 62.5-70 (65) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (175-190 (185) long; 75-95 (95) wide) partially fused to dorsal plate. Dgl-4 nearly halfway between the edge of the dorsum and the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 305-370 (345)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.19-1.21 (1.20); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.56-1.67 (1.57); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.37-2.50 (2.50); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 1.95-2.33 (1.95); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.12-1.23 (1.14).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (325-355 (355) long (ventral); 245-270 (270) long (dorsal); 137.5-155 (150) tall) colorless. Rostrum (142.5-152.5 (152.5) long; 45-45 (45) wide). Chelicerae (330-370 (360) long) with curved fangs (55-65 (65) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.28-2.37 (2.37); rostrum length/width 3.17-3.39 (3.39). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (42.5-50 (48.75) long); femur (118.75-135 (135) long); genu (70-80 (76.25) long); tibia (92.5-105 (97.5) long; 22.5-25 (25) wide); tarsus (17.5-22.5 (22.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.69-1.77 (1.77); tibia/femur 0.72-0.84 (0.72); tibia length/width 3.90-4.22 (3.90).

Venter - (720-850 (770) long; 590-645 (605) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (160-192.5 (192.5) long; 77.5-90 (80) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (15-15 (15) long). Genital plates (180-190 (190) long; 167.5-185 (185) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (280-320 (315) long (total); 115-135 (130) long (medial)); Cx-3 (355-390 (390) wide); anterior venter (150-165 (160) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 2.00-2.41 (2.41); anterior venter/genital field length 0.81-0.89 (0.84); anterior venter length/genital field width 0.86-0.97 (0.86); anterior venter/medial suture 10.00-11.00 (10.67).

Male (Figure 198) (n = 4) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (530-585 (530) long; 435-495 (435) wide) circular with purple coloration posteriorly and anteriorly connected medially but not extending to platelets. Anterio-medial platelets (131.25-145 (131.25) long; 52.5-62.5 (55) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (165-182.5 (170) long; 70-77.5 (70) wide) partially fused to dorsal plate. Dgl-4 nearly halfway between the edge of the dorsum and the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 265-330 (265)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.18-1.22 (1.22); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.50-1.70 (1.64); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.32-2.76 (2.39); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.13-2.43 (2.43); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.14-1.30 (1.30).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (305-320 (305) long (ventral); 230-245 (235) long (dorsal); 125-130 (125) tall) colorless. Rostrum (127.5-140 (127.5) long; 40-42.5 (40) wide). Chelicerae (305-320 (305) long) with curved fangs (57.5-60 (60) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.44-2.48 (2.44); rostrum length/width 3.19-3.29 (3.19). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (42.5-45 (42.5) long); femur (110-117.5 (110) long); genu (67.5-72.5 (67.5) long); tibia (85-93.75 (85) long; 22.5-25 (22.5) wide); tarsus (20-22.5 (20) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.62-1.70 (1.63); tibia/femur 0.76-0.80 (0.77); tibia length/width 3.50-3.78 (3.78).

Venter - (625-695 (625) long; 510-560 (540) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (145-157.5 (145) long; 70-77.5 (70) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (75-80 (75) long). Genital plates (165-185 (165) long; 145-160 (150) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (270-305 (285) long (total); 120-140 (140) long (medial)); Cx-3 (340-360 (350) wide); anterior venter (220-250 (230) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 2.00-2.25 (2.07); anterior venter/genital field length 1.33-1.42 (1.39); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.47-1.61 (1.53); anterior venter/medial suture 2.93-3.13 (3.07).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( priapus ) is named for Priapus, the Greek fertility god who was marked by his oversized, permanent erection, which refers to the genital opening in the male-the largest of all North American Torrenticola .

Distribution.

Eastern (Figure 196). Distribution seemingly disjunct (Texas and New Hampshire).

Remarks.

Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire fresh material of Torrenticola priapus 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, distribution, and partial fusion of the dorso-lateral platelets to the dorsal plate, are consistent with placing this species in the Rusetria Complex and within the Partial 2-Plate Identification Group.