Torrenticola raptor 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 raptor Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, Ontario, Hastings County, Maple Leaf, Papineau Creek, beside Highway 62, 18 Aug 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110054, DNA 2864.

PARATYPES (58 ♀; 40 ♂): Alabama, USA: 3 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Clay County, Talladega Creek, beside Forest Route 649, 0.8 kilometers northeast of road from Forest Route 600 to Campbell Springs, 2 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900075A • Maine, USA: 1 ♀ from Aroostook County, Ashland, beside Route 11 at bridge, Aroostook River (46°38'N, 68°24'W), 4 Jul 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890067 • 1 ♀ from Franklin County, Smalls Falls Picnic Area, beside Route 4, Sandy River (44°52'N, 70°31'W), 5 Jul 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890069 • 2 ♀ from Washington County, Old Stream, off Route 9, 5.5 km west of Route 192, 6 Jun 2012, by IM Smith, IMS120012 • New Brunswick, Canada: 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Charlotte County, Rollingham, Digdeguash River, beside Highway 770 at covered bridge, 30 Jun 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890053 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Charlotte County, Rollingham, Digdegaush River, beside Highway 770, 3 Oct 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110118 • 1 ♂ from Northumberland County, Renous River, beside Highway 108, 18 Jul 1980, by IM Smith, IMS800111 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Restigouche County, Mt. Carleton Provincial Park, Nictau River, 16 Jul 1980, by IM Smith, IMS800109 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from York County, Magaguadavic River, beside Highway 3, just east of Thomaston Corners, 1 Jul 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890055A • 1 ♂ from York County, Napadogan Brook, beside Road J-19, 6.3 kilometers north of Nashwaak Exper. Watershed headquarters, 23 Jul 1981, by IM Smith, IMS810095B • 1 ♀ from York County, Nashwaak Exper. Watershed, Nashwaak River, at trunk road, 20 Jul 1980, by IM Smith, IMS800118A • New Hampshire, USA: 1 ♀ from Coos County, picnic area beside Route 110, Ammonoosuc River (44°36'N, 71°24'W), 5 Jul 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890071 • New Jersey, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Sussex County, Big Flat Brook beside Flatbrook Road, 2.6 kilometers north of Route 206 at Tuttles Corner, 23 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900053 • New York, USA: 2 ♀ from Essex County, Minerva, Boreas River, beside Route 28N, 13.8 kilometers northwest of Morse Memorial Parkway, 21 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900050A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Greene County, Schoharie Creek, beside Route 23A, 9.6 kilometers west of Route 296 in Hunter, 22 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900052 • 1 ♀ from Ulster County, beside Route 28, 1.6 kilometers south of Mt. Tremper, 17 Aug 1964, by DR Cook, DRC640023 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Warren County, East Branch of Sacandaga River, beside Route 8, 14.5 kilometers east of Route 30, 21 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900051A • North Carolina, USA: 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Yancey County, Lost Cove Picnic Area, South Toe River, on Forest Route 472, 2.8 kilometers south of Route 80, 28 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900065A • Nova Scotia, Canada: 1 ♀ from Inervess County, Cape Brenton Highlands National Park, Cheticamp entrance, pond near Salmon Pools Trailhead, 10 Sep 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110072 • 1 ♀ from Inervess County, Inervess, Cheticamp River, 10 Sep 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110071 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Luneburg County, New Germany, LaHave River, beside Highway 10, 23 Sep 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110098 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Victoria County, Cape Brenton Island, Baddeck River, beside road to Baddeck Forks, 18 Jul 1981, by IM Smith, IMS810082 • Ontario, Canada: 1 ♂ from Cochrane County, Hearst, Pitopiko River, beside Highway 11, 24 Jul 1975, by IM Smith & D Spaner, IMS750120 • 3 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Hastings County, Madawaska, Opeongo River, beside Highway 60, 29 Aug 1981, by IM Smith, IMS810033A • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Hastings County, Maple Leaf, Papineau Creek, 10-11 Jun 1981, by IM Smith, IMS810014A • 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Hastings County, Maple Leaf, Papineau Creek, east of Davis Road before Highway 62, 18 Aug 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110053, DNA 1257 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Hastings County, Maple Leaf, Papineau Creek, east of Davis Road before Highway 62, 18 Aug 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110053 • 1 ♀ from Hastings County, Maple Leaf, Papineau Creek, beside Highway 62, 18 Aug 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110054 • 1 ♀ from Kenora County, Ignace, beside Highway 599, 4.2 kilometers north of Highway 17, 31 Jul 1975, by IM Smith, IMS750216 • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Kenora County, Revell River, beside Highway 17, 40.2 kilometers east of Highway 72, 3 Jun 1980, by IM Smith, IMS800052 • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Muskoka County, Huntsville, East River, Xing road to Dyer Memorial, 26 Aug 1981, by IM Smith, IMS810032A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Lanark County, Mississippi River, beside Lanark Road #12, between Lanark & Fallbrook, 6 Oct 1983, by IM Smith & CJ Hill, IMS830094A • 1 ♂ from Nipissing County, Algonquin Provincial Park, Madawaska River, at Highway 60, near Lake of Two Rivers, 15 May 1980, by IM Smith & CJ Hill, IMS800004C • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Nipissing County, Aumond Creek, beside Highway 17, east of Mattawa, 30 Aug 1983, by IM Smith & CJ Hill, IMS830079A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Nipissing County, Aumond Creek, beside Highway 17, east of Mattawa, 30 Aug 1983, by IM Smith & CJ Hill, IMS830079B • 1 ♀ from Nipissing County, Bastien Creek, at picnic area, beside Highway 17, east of Mattawa, 30 Aug 1983, by IM Smith & CJ Hill, IMS830076A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Peterborough County, Apsley, Eels Creek, crossing Highway 28, just south of Eels Lake, 13 Jun 1981, by IM Smith, IMS810017A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Peterborough County, Eels Creek, crossing Highway 28 at picnic area, just north of Woodview, 13 Jun 1981, by IM Smith, IMS810018A • 1 ♂ from Thunder Bay County, west of Geraldton, Creelman Creek, beside Highway 11, 26 Jul 1975, by IM Smith & D Spaner, IMS750147 • Quebec, Canada: 1 ♀ from Gatineau County, Gatineau Park stream crossing, Gatineau Parkway at Meech Lake Road, 15 Sep 1981, by IM Smith & C Cramer, IMS810034A • 1 ♀ from Gatineau County, beside Gatineau Parkway, at Meech Lake Road, 13 Aug 1982, by IM Smith & CJ Hill, IMS820001A • 1 ♂ from Gatineau County, beside Gatineau Parkway, at Meech Lake Road, 13 Aug 1982, by IM Smith & CJ Hill, IMS820001B • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Pontiac County, beside road at east end of Thorne Lake (45°32'N, 76°0'W), 1 May 1986, by IM Smith & CJ Hill, IMS860002A • South Carolina, USA: 1 ♀ from Greenville County, Matthews Creek, 24 Apr 2014, by D Eargle, JRF 14-0424-001 • Tennessee, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Monroe County, Tellico River, beside Forest Route 210, 1.8 kilometers east of bridge at Bald River Falls, 5 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900079 • 1 ♀ from Monroe County, Tellico River (35°20'27"N, 84°11'31"W), 12 Sep 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090111 • 1 ♀ from Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountians National Park, Little River (35°40'56"N, 83°39'2"W), 8 Sep 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090103 • 2 ♀ from Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountianss National Park, Laurel Creek (35°39'7"N, 83°42'32"W), 17 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100145 • West Virginia, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Pocahontas County, Island Campground, East Fork of Greenbrier River, beside Route 28, northeast of Thornwood, 16 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900101A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Randolph County, Laurel Fork Campground, Laurel Fork of Cheat River, off Forest Route 14, south of Wymer, 17 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900102.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and most paratypes (53 ♀; 34 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (5 ♀; 5 ♂) deposited in ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola raptor are similar to other members of the Raptor Group ( T. gnoma , T. irapalpa , T. longitibia , T. mjolniri , T. elusiva , T. racupalpa , T. danielleae , T. daemon , and T. ivyae ) in having round bodies; Dgl-4 close to muscles scars; long, thin subcapitular rostra; and long, thin pedipalp tibiae. T. raptor can be differentiated from all other members of the Raptor Group by having a more elongate subcapitulum (ventral length/height ♀ = 2.98-3.18 in T. raptor , 2.26-2.90 in others; ♂ = 3.13-3.27 in T. raptor , 2.29-3.00 in others). T. raptor can be further differentiated from T. elusiva , T. irapalpa , T. gnoma , T. danielleae , T. daemon , and T. ivyae by having more elongate pedipalp tibiae (length/width ♀ = 6.00-7.54 in T. raptor , 4.09-5.67 in others; ♂ = 5.29-5.63 in T. raptor , 3.88-5.20 in others). T. raptor can be further differentiated from T. mjolniri , T. longitibia , T. gnoma , T. elusiva , T. racupalpa , and T. ivyae by having Dgl-4 closer to the dorsal edge (dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 = 1.66-2.02 in T. raptor , 2.06-3.29 in others).

Description.

Female (Figure 212) (n = 13) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (570-660 (625) long; 465-550 (505) wide) circular with coloration posteriorly extending in a strip anteriorly to the edge of the dorsal plate (rarely without anterior extension), coloration variable from navy blue to purple to reddish purple. Anterio-medial platelets (122.5-150 (135) long; 60-80 (75) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (182.5-210 (195) long; 75-90 (80) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 closer to the muscle scars than to the dorsum edge (distance between Dgl-4 230-295 (275)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.19-1.31 (1.24); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.80-2.02 (1.84); anterio-medial platelet length/width 1.75-2.07 (1.80); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.28-2.49 (2.44); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.39-1.57 (1.44).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (335-380 (365) long (ventral); 249-283 (270) long (dorsal); 107.5-125 (120) tall) colorless. Rostrum (150-167.5 (160) long; 37.5-45 (37.5) wide) elongate. Chelicerae (316-368 (355) long) with curved fangs (43-60 (60) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.98-3.18 (3.04); rostrum length/width 3.44-4.40 (4.27). Pedipalps elongate (especially tibiae) with long tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (37.5-42.5 (42.5) long); femur (122.5-143.75 (137.5) long); genu (65-77.5 (70) long); tibia (112.5-142.5 (122.5) long; 16.25-20 (18.75) wide); tarsus (17.5-22.5 (22.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.68-1.96 (1.96); tibia/femur 0.82-1.03 (0.89); tibia length/width 6.00-7.54 (6.53).

Venter - (720-830 (800) long; 535-609 (550) wide) with faint navy blue to purple coloration or colorless. Gnathosomal bay (135-192.5 (172.5) long; 62.5-85 (75) wide). Cxgl-4 far from apex. Medial suture (35-45 (45) long). Genital plates (157.5-182.5 (170) long; 135-153.75 (145) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (271-330 (330) long (total); 92-160 (160) long (medial)); Cx-3 (336-373 (340) wide); anterior venter (205-240 (220) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.74-2.48 (2.30); anterior venter/genital field length 1.23-1.47 (1.29); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.41-1.65 (1.52); anterior venter/medial suture 4.56-6.29 (4.89).

Male (Figure 213) (n = 5) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (540-610 (540) long; 415-450 (440) wide) circular with coloration posteriorly extending in a strip anteriorly to the edge of the dorsal plate (rarely without anterior extension), coloration variable from navy blue to purple to reddish purple. Anterio-medial platelets (126.25-132.5 (127.5) long; 57.5-65 (57.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (177.5-190 (177.5) long; 68-80 (75) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 closer to the muscle scars than to the dorsum edge (distance between Dgl-4 230-265 (230)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.23-1.36 (1.23); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.66-1.91 (1.91); anterio-medial platelet length/width 1.94-2.22 (2.22); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.34-2.58 (2.37); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.39-1.47 (1.39).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (297.5-327.5 (297.5) long (ventral); 220-247 (221) long (dorsal); 95-102.5 (95) tall) colorless. Rostrum (131.25-147.5 (131.25) long; 30-35 (30) wide) elongate. Chelicerae (274-306 (274) long) with curved fangs (44-54 (45) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 3.13-3.27 (3.13); rostrum length/width 3.89-4.38 (4.38). Pedipalps elongate (especially tibiae) with long tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (37.5-40 (40) long); femur (111.25-122.5 (111.25) long); genu (62.5-65 (62.5) long); tibia (102.5-112.5 (102.5) long; 18.75-21.25 (18.75) wide); tarsus (17.5-20 (20) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.73-1.88 (1.78); tibia/femur 0.89-0.99 (0.92); tibia length/width 5.29-5.63 (5.47).

Venter - (680-790 (680) long; 457-523 (458) wide) with faint navy blue to purple coloration or colorless. Gnathosomal bay (132.5-145 (132.5) long; 52.5-77.5 (52.5) wide). Cxgl-4 far from apex. Medial suture (80-107.5 (80) long). Genital plates (137.5-152.5 (141.25) long; 110-125 (120) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (268-322 (269) long (total); 112-160 (113) long (medial)); Cx-3 (332-347 (335) wide); anterior venter (245-305 (245) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.81-2.52 (2.52); anterior venter/genital field length 1.73-2.11 (1.73); anterior venter length/genital field width 2.04-2.60 (2.04); anterior venter/medial suture 2.84-3.06 (3.06).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( raptor ) refers to the long, thin pedipalps (especially tibiae) of this species which, combined with pronounced tubercles, appear especially capable of grasping slippery prey (rapio L. to seize; known in apposition).

Distribution.

Northeastern, but extending southward in the Appalachians (Figure 211).

Remarks.

Torrenticola raptor groups with other members of the Raptor Complex with high support and specimens of this species are less than 4% different in COI sequence from each other. This is higher sequence variability than in many species hypotheses presented herein. However, given the topology in the COI tree (Figure 7) and morphological similarity, it seems apparent that the variability represents a continuum across a large distribution rather than isolated species, so we consider these specimens to be within the same species hypothesis.

The position of T. raptor varied with analysis and was not well-supported in the combined analysis, so we are unable to comment on its affinities. However, morphological similarity is consistent with placing this species in the Raptor Identification Group.

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