Torrenticola skvarlai 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 skvarlai Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Laurel Hill State Park, Laurel Hill Creek (40°1'6"N, 79°14'4"W), 8 Aug 2014, by MJ Skvarla, MS 14-0808-001.

PARATYPES (17 ♀; 24 ♂): New Hampshire, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Coos County, Randolph, Moose River, beside Route 2, 30 Jul 1981, by IM Smith, IMS810105 • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Coos County, White Mountain National Forest, Peabody River, Dolly Copp Campground, south of Gorham, 27 Jul 1981, IMS810099A & IMS810099B • New York, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Essex County, Minerva, Boreas River, beside Route 28N, 13.8 kilometers northwest of Morse Memorial Parkway, 21 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900050A • 2 ♀ 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 • North Carolina, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Macon County, Cullasaja River, Highlands beside Route 64/28, 4.1 kilometers northwest of Cliffside Lake Road, 30 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900070A • 2 ♂ from Macon County, Rainbow Springs, Nantahala River, beside Forest Route 67, south of Standing Indian Campground, 1 Jul 1990, IMS900072 • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Yancey County, South Toe River, Lost Cove Picnic Area on Forest Route 472, 2.8 kilometers south of Route 80, 28 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900065A • Pennsylvania, USA: 1 ♂ from Bedford County, Chaneysville, Sweet Root Picnic Area beside Route 326, 18 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900105 • 1 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Fayette County, Dunbar Creek (39°57'50"N, 79°35'8.70"W), 10 Aug 2014, by MJ Skvarla, MS 14-0810-001 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Huntingdon County, Alan Seeger Natural Area, Stone Creek, beside road from McAlevys Fort to Route 322, 19 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900107 • 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Somerset County, Laurel Hill State Park, Laurel Hill Creek (40°1'6"N, 79°14'4"W), 8 Aug 2014, by MJ Skvarla, MS 14-0808-001 • 2 ♀ from Somerset County, Laurel Hill State Park, Laurel Hill Creek (40°1'6"N, 79°14'4"W), 8 Aug 2014, by MJ Skvarla, MS 14-0808-001 • 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, Turkey Creek, beside Forest Route 35, 2.0 kilometers northeast of road from Route 165 to Miller Chapel Church, 5 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900078 • Virginia, USA: 1 ♀ and 4 ♂ from Washington County, Damascus, Laurel River, beside Route 58 near boundary of Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, 10 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900085A • West Virginia, USA: 1 ♂ from Pendleton County, Spruce Knob, beside Forest Route 112, 10.2 kilometers west of Route 33, 17 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900103 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Randolph County, Laurel Fork of Cheat River, Laurel Fork Campground off Forest Route 14, south of Wymer, 17 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900102.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and other paratypes (12 ♀; 18 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (5 ♀; 5 ♂) deposited in ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola skvarlai are similar to species with similar dorsal patterning, such as the Rusetria “4-Plate” group ( T. dunni , T. glomerabilis , T. kittatinniana , T. pollani , T. rufoalba , and T. shubini ), Elongata Group ( T. elongata , T. gorti , and T. reduncarostra ), Neoanomala Group ( T. interiorensis and T. neoanomala ), T. bondi , T. racupalpa , T. irapalpa , T. erectirostra , and T. arktonyx . They can be differentiated from all of these except Rusetria 4-Plates by having indistinct hind coxal margins. T. skvarlai can be differentiated from all Rusetria 4-Plates by having broadly tuberculate, dentate pedipalp femoral extensions (all Rusetria Complex have conical tuberculate pedipalp femoral extensions, usually without dentation) and by having a shorter anterior venter (♀ = 140-152.5 in T. skvarlai , 155-213 in Rusetria 4-Plates; ♂ = 177-205 in T. skvarlai , 215-285 in Rusetria 4-Plates).

Description.

Female (Figure 244) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (495-560 (495) long; 370-420 (370) wide) ovoid with reddish-purple or bluish-purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, occasionally with orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (107.5-117.5 (107.5) long; 42.5-47.5 (42.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (155-167.5 (155) long; 52.5-62.5 (52.5) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 245-285 (255)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.33-1.39 (1.34); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.45-1.58 (1.45); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.37-2.53 (2.53); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.68-2.95 (2.95); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.36-1.44 (1.44).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (290-315 (290) long (ventral); 218-240 (219) long (dorsal); 120-135 (120) tall) colorless. Rostrum (115-130 (115) long; 40-47.5 (40) wide). Chelicerae (286.75-321 (299) long) with curved fangs (49-65 (54) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.33-2.48 (2.42); rostrum length/width 2.74-2.94 (2.88). Pedipalps with broadly tuberculate, dentate ventral extensions on femora and tuberculate ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (37.5-45 (40) long); femur (105-119 (105) long); genu (62.5-67.5 (62.5) long); tibia (82.5-90 (82.5) long; 22.5-25 (22.5) wide); tarsus (17.5-20 (17.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.67-1.76 (1.68); tibia/femur 0.76-0.79 (0.79); tibia length/width 3.50-3.78 (3.67).

Venter - (600-690 (600) long; 435-480 (435) wide) with faint reddish-purple or bluish-purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (125-165 (135) long; 85-105 (85) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (12.5-15 (12.5) long). Genital plates (165-172.5 (166.25) long; 150-152.5 (150) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (243-285 (257) long (total); 109-120 (109) long (medial)); Cx-3 (295-345 (300) wide); anterior venter (140-152.5 (145) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.47-1.71 (1.59); anterior venter/genital field length 0.84-0.92 (0.87); anterior venter length/genital field width 0.93-1.02 (0.97); anterior venter/medial suture 10.17-12.00 (11.60).

Male (Figure 245) (n = 5) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (425-510 (450) long; 310-360 (325) wide) ovoid with reddish-purple or bluish-purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, occasionally with orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (95-102.5 (100) long; 38.75-47.5 (40) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (142.5-177.5 (147.5) long; 45-57.5 (47.5) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 220-240 (240)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.32-1.42 (1.38); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.35-1.50 (1.35); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.16-2.50 (2.50); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 3.09-3.28 (3.11); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.48-1.73 (1.48).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (245-290 (255) long (ventral); 177.5-220 (193) long (dorsal); 92.5-105 (97.5) tall) colorless. Rostrum (97.5-125 (102.5) long; 32.5-45 (35) wide). Chelicerae (235-280 (245) long) with curved fangs (47.5-55 (54) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.62-2.76 (2.62); rostrum length/width 2.78-3.00 (2.93). Pedipalps with broadly tuberculate, dentate ventral extensions on femora and tuberculate ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (30-40 (36.25) long); femur (87.5-105 (87.5) long); genu (50-60 (52.5) long); tibia (75-82.5 (78.75) long; 20-22.5 (21.25) wide); tarsus (15-18.75 (17.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.67-1.80 (1.67); tibia/femur 0.79-0.90 (0.90); tibia length/width 3.65-3.88 (3.71).

Venter - (530-620 (550) long; 358-415 (359) wide) with faint reddish-purple or bluish-purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (130-145 (130) long; 62.5-75 (73.75) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (55-75 (75) long). Genital plates (120-135 (120) long; 100-110 (100) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (225-280 (242) long (total); 100-135 (102) long (medial)); Cx-3 (270-320 (272) wide); anterior venter (177.5-205 (192.5) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.76-2.16 (1.76); anterior venter/genital field length 1.48-1.63 (1.60); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.78-1.95 (1.93); anterior venter/medial suture 2.57-3.23 (2.57).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( skvarlai ) named in honor of Michael Skvarla, who collected specimens of the species and is a dear friend and colleague of JRF.

Distribution.

Appalachians (Figure 243).

Remarks.

Torrenticola skvarlai groups with other members of the Raptor Complex with high support and specimens are less than 2% different in COI sequence from each other and greater than 9% from sister species. Placement of this species varied with analysis and was never well-supported. Furthermore, this species is not readily identifiable without keying, which does not warrant placement within an identification group.

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