Torrenticola pacificensis 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 pacificensis Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, Washington, Clallam County, Green Creek (48°10'45"N, 124°12'21"W), 24 Jul 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0724-005.

PARATYPES (34 ♀; 31 ♂): British Columbia, Canada: 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Caycuse, Nixon Creek, 8 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760197 & IMS760198 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, beside Highway 4, 35.6 kilometers east of Pacific Rim Road, 9 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760206 • 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, beside Highway 4, 1.3 kilometers east of Pacific Rim Road, Lost Shoe Creek, 9 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760202 • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan, Skutz Falls, Skutz Creek, near Cowichan River, 9 Jul 1979, by IM Smith, IMS790036A & IMS790036B • 1 ♀ from Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan, Cowichan River, above Skutz Falls, 9 Jul 1979, by IM Smith, IMS790035 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan, South Shore Road, north of Mesachie Lake, Robertson River, 4 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760183A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan, South Shore Road, north of Mesachie Lake, tributary of Robertson River, 10 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760183B • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan, South Shore Road, north of Mesachie Lake, tributary of Robertson River, 4-10 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760182 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Malahat, Goldstream Provincial Park, Goldstream River, 26 Jun 1979, by IM Smith, IMS790028A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Malahat, Goldstream Provincial Park, near Mt. Finlayson Trail, 26 Jun 1979, by IM Smith, IMS790027A • 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, beside South Shore Road, 2.3 kilometers south of Caycuse, 26 Jul 1979, by IM Smith, IMS790052 • 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, beside North Shore Road, 1.7 kilometers north of Lake Cowichan, 7 Jun 1979, by IM Smith, IMS790008C • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, North Shore Road, 3.2 kilometers south of Youbou, 4 Jul 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760190 • 1 ♂ from Vancouver Island, Youbou, North Shore Road, Shaw Creek, 4.3 kilometers south of north end of Cowichan Lake, by IM Smith, IMS760196 • Oregon, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Benton County, Marys Peak near Philomath, Parker Creek, 27-28 Jun 1983, by IM Smith & AB Smith, IMS830006 • 1 ♀ from Benton County, Marys Peak near Philomath, Parker Creek, 28 Jun 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830007 • 1 ♂ from Benton County, Philomath, Marys Peak campground, Park Creek, 23 Jun 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760146 • 1 ♀ from Coos County, Siskiyou National Forest, road 33 between Powers and Agness, Coal Creek, 2 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830015 • 1 ♀ from Coos County, Siskiyou National Forest, road 33 between Powers and Agness, 0.5 kilometers east of Daphne Grove campground, 2 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830017 • 3 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Curry County, Port Orford, small spring run beside road from Humbug Mountain State Park to McGribble campground, 25 Jun 1976, IMS760161 • 1 ♂ from Curry County, Port Orford, Humbug Mountain State Park Picnic Area, Brush Creek, beside Route 1, 3 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830020A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Curry County, Siskiyou National Forest, road 33 between Powers and Agness, North Fork of Foster Creek, 2 Jul 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830019 • 1 ♀ from Lane County, Gate Creek (44°8'48"N, 122°34'20"W), 11 Aug 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0811-001 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Lincoln County, Blackberry campground near Tidewater, Alsea River, 28 Jun 1983, by IM Smith & AB Smith, IMS830009 • 4 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Marion County, Marion Forks Riverside campground, North Fork of Santiam River, 22 Jun 1976, by IM Smith, IMS760145 • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Multnomah County, Columbia River Scenic Highway, stream below Horsetail Falls, 27 Jun 1983, by IM Smith, IMS830005 • 1 ♀ from Tillamook County, Siuslaw National Forest, Alder Creek (45°9'27"N, 123°47'60"W), 6 Aug 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0806-002 • Washington, USA: 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Clallam County, Green Creek (48°10'45"N, 124°12'21"W), 24 Jul 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0724-005 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Clallam County, Green Creek (48°10'45"N, 124°12'21"W), 24 Jul 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0724-005 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Lewis County, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Snake Creek (46°38'52"N, 121°43'8"W), 23 Jul 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0723-006 • 1 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Snohomish County, Mount Baker National Forest, Marten River (48°4'19"N, 121°36'24"W), 28 Jul 2013, by JC O’Neill, & WA Nelson, JNOW 13-0728-002.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and most paratypes (29 ♀; 325♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (5 ♀; 5 ♂) deposited in ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola pacificensis are similar to members of the Miniforma group ( T. copipalpa , T. manni , T. miniforma , T. rockyensis , T. oliveri , and T. pinocchio ) in having short, stocky pedipalps (except T. oliveri and T. pinocchio ); similar pedipalpal extensions (unique to members of this group); and being among the smallest Torrenticola in the west (dorsum 500-625 long) (except T. oliveri ). T. pacificensis are best differentiated from T. rockyensis by females having a stockier rostrum (length/width ♀ = 2.59-2.68 in T. pacificensis , 2.72-2.91 in T. rockyensis ); and by being distributed in the Pacific Coast Ranges of Washington and Oregon instead of the Rocky Mountains (Idaho & Montana). T. pacificensis are best differentiated from T. copipalpa by having tuberculate pedipalp femoral extensions (broad and flat in T. copipalpa ) and by being distributed in the Pacific Coast Ranges of Washington and Oregon, whereas although T. pacificensis overlap, they are more southern (southwest Oregon & California). T. pacificensis are best differentiated from T. manni by having stockier tibiae (length/width = 2.67-3.00 in pacificensis , 3.13-3.38 in T. manni ); having a stockier rostrum (length/width ♀ = 2.59-2.68 in T. pacificensis , 3.00-3.13 in T. manni ; ♂ = 2.76-3.07 in T. pacificensis , 3.13-3.20 in T. manni ); and by being distributed in the Pacific Coast Ranges of Washington and Oregon, whereas T. manni is only known from Catron County, New Mexico. T. pacificensis are best differentiated from T. miniforma by having stockier anterio-medial platelets (length/width = 2.00-2.16 in T. pacificensis , 2.44-2.65 in T. miniforma ); stockier subcapitular rostra (length/width = 2.59-3.07 in T. pacificensis ; 3.13-3.19 in T. miniforma ); and by being distributed in the Pacific Coast Ranges of Washington and Oregon, whereas T. miniforma is only known from Humboldt County, California. T. pacificensis can be differentiated from T. oliveri by having a shorter anterior venter (177-235 in T. pacificensis , 250-310 in T. oliveri ) and less elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width = 2.6-3.0 in T. pacificensis , 3.6-4.2 in T. oliveri ). T. pacificensis can be differentiated from T. pinocchio by having a less elongate rostrum (length/width = 2.5-3.1 in T. pacificensis , 4.5-4.9 in T. pinocchio ) and less elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width = 2.67-3.00 in T. pacificensis , 3.13-3.50 in T. pinocchio ).

Description.

Female (Figure 182) (n = 6) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (530-625 (580) long; 335-430 (400) wide) ovoid with purple coloration restricted posteriorly. Anterio-medial platelets (100-117.5 (110) long; 47.5-55 (52.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (145-170 (162.5) long; 52.5-63.75 (57.5) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 270-345 (300)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.42-1.58 (1.45); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.24-1.36 (1.33); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.05-2.14 (2.10); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.63-2.95 (2.83); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.43-1.48 (1.48).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (287.5-325 (300) long (ventral); 210-236 (225) long (dorsal); 110-125 (115) tall) colorless. Rostrum (110-127.5 (120) long; 41.25-47.5 (45) wide). Chelicerae (265-331 (305) long) with curved fangs (50-62 (52.5) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.52-2.65 (2.61); rostrum length/width 2.59-2.68 (2.67). Pedipalps short and stocky (especially tibiae) with nearly tuberculate, dentate ventral extensions on femora and dentate, flanged ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (30-35 (32.5) long); femur (85-95 (95) long); genu (57.5-67.5 (65) long); tibia (55-67.5 (62.5) long; 20-23.75 (22.5) wide); tarsus (12.5-17.5 (15) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.40-1.48 (1.46); tibia/femur 0.65-0.71 (0.66); tibia length/width 2.71-3.00 (2.78).

Venter - (650-770 (720) long; 434-521 (440) wide) colorless or with faint purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (122.5-142.5 (140) long; 66.25-87.5 (67.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (47.5-55 (50) long). Genital plates (162.5-185 (180) long; 143.75-172.5 (160) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (230-289 (250) long (total); 110-142 (120) long (medial)); Cx-3 (280-331 (280) wide); anterior venter (177.5-205 (182.5) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.49-2.07 (2.07); anterior venter/genital field length 1.01-1.11 (1.01); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.07-1.23 (1.14); anterior venter/medial suture 3.38-3.89 (3.65).

Male (Figure 183) (n = 5) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (525-590 (550) long; 355-375 (370) wide) ovoid with purple coloration restricted posteriorly. Anterio-medial platelets (97.5-115 (102.5) long; 47.5-55 (47.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (147.5-162.5 (147.5) long; 52.5-57.5 52.5) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 280-290 (290)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.48-1.57 (1.49); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.28-1.30 (1.28); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.00-2.16 (2.16); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.73-2.83 (2.81); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.41-1.54 (1.44).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (275-287.5 (285) long (ventral); 195-220 (212) long (dorsal); 103.75-115 (107.5) tall) colorless. Rostrum (107.5-117.5 (113.75) long; 35-42.5 (38.75) wide). Chelicerae (251-281 (273) long) with curved fangs (46-57 (47) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.50-2.65 (2.65); rostrum length/width 2.76-3.07 (2.94). Pedipalps short and stocky (especially tibiae) with nearly tuberculate, dentate ventral extensions on femora and dentate, flanged ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (30-32.5 (32.5) long); femur (82.5-90 (85) long); genu (57.5-65 (62.5) long); tibia (55-60 (57.5) long; 20-22.5 (21.25) wide); tarsus (15-16.25 (16.25) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.36-1.50 (1.36); tibia/femur 0.65-0.68 (0.68); tibia length/width 2.67-2.94 (2.71).

Venter - (645-740 (740) long; 388-460 (431) wide) colorless or with faint purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (120-140 (135) long; 60-75 (60) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (82.5-87.5 (82.5) long). Genital plates (140-147.5 (140) long; 110-120 (113.75) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (243-277 (277) long (total); 120-146 (125) long (medial)); Cx-3 (245-310 (300) wide); anterior venter (216.25-235 (220) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.60-2.25 (2.25); anterior venter/genital field length 1.50-1.59 (1.57); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.89-1.98 (1.93); anterior venter/medial suture 2.49-2.69 (2.67).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( pacificensis ) refers to the distribution of this species in the Pacific Ranges of the Pacific Northwest. This location-based name reflects that locality is the best way to differentiate this species from others in the Miniforma Group, particularly T. rockyensis .

Distribution.

Western Oregon and western Washington (Figure 181). It seems reasonable to suspect T. pacificensis also occurs in coastal British Columbia and northwestern California.

Remarks.

Torrenticola pacificensis groups with other members of the Miniforma Complex with high support and specimens of this species are less than 1% different in COI sequence from each other. In all analyses, T. pacificensis groups with three other morphologically similar species: T. rockyensis , T. manni , and T. copipalpa . These three species are greater than 4% different from each other in COI sequence. This species overlaps with T. copipalpa in west-central Oregon, but is the only member of the Miniforma group that occurs north of that point of overlap.

Based upon overall similarity, the pedipalp genu extensions, and western distribution, we were able to place this species in the Miniforma Identification Group.

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