Torrenticola tricolor Habeeb, 1957

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 tricolor Habeeb, 1957

Torrenticola tricolor Habeeb, 1957: 1.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♂): from USA, New Jersey, Sussex County, Little Flatbrook, north of Bevans, 12 Oct 1953, by H Habeeb, HH530110.

PARATYPES (1 ♀; 0 ♂): New Jersey, USA: 1 ♀ (ALLOTYPE) from Sussex County, Little Flatbrook, north of Bevans, 12 Oct 1953, by H Habeeb, HH530110.

OTHER MATERIAL (15 ♀; 8 ♂): Georgia, USA: 1 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Chattooga County, East Fork of Little River, Cloudland (34°31'25"N, 85°30'23"W), 28 Sep 1992, by IM Smith, IMS920056A • New Hampshire, USA: 1 ♀ from Coos County, picnic area beside Route 110, Upper Ammonoosuc River (44°36'N, 71°24'W), 5 Jul 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890071 • New Jersey, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Warren County, Pequest River, 16 kilometers west of Hackettstown, 15 Aug 1964, by DR Cook, DRC640020 • New York, USA: 1 ♀ from Hamilton County, beside Route 8, 4.8 kilometers from Warren County line, 19 Aug 1964, by DR Cook, DRC640026 • Nova Scotia, Canada: 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Guysborough County, Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke Picnic Park beside Highway 7, 17 Sep 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110087 • Ontario, Canada: 1 ♀ from Hastings County, Moira River, Vanderwater Conservation Area, off Highway 37 south of Tweed, 20 Sep 1983, by IM Smith & CJ Hill, IMS830086C • 1 ♀ from Muskoka District, Baysville, shallow bay on south side of Echo Lake, 18 Aug 1981, by IM Smith, IMS810023 • South Carolina, USA: 1 ♀ from Greenville County, Matthews Creek, 24 Apr 2014, by D Eargle, JRF 14-0424-001 • Tennessee, USA: 1 ♀ from Blount County, Great Smoky National Park, Abrams River (35°35'30"N, 83°51'20"W), 17 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100142 • 1 ♀ from Monroe County, Tellico River (35°19'N, 84°10'W), 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 • 3 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Sevier County, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Middle Prong Little Pigeon River (35°43'33"N, 83°24'1"W), 12 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100131 • 1 ♂ from Sevier County, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Middle Prong Little Pigeon River (35°44'12"N, 83°24'51"W), 12 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100132 • Virginia, USA: 1 ♂ from Alleghany County, Covington, Potts Creek, beside Route 18, 0.5 kilometers north of Route 657, 13 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900091B • 1 ♀ from Rappahannock County, Sperrysville, North Fork of Thornton River, beside Route 612, 0.5 miles from Route 211, 8 Sep 1968, by DR Cook, DRC680066.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀) and allotype (♂) deposited in the CNC.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola tricolor are similar to other members of the Tricolor Complex ( T. bittikoferae , T. hoosieri , T. larvata , T. pearsoni , T. olliei , T. sierrensis , T. trimaculata , T. unimaculata , T. cardia , T. kringi , T. dimorpha , and T. mohawk ) in having a short, conical rostrum. T. tricolor can be differentiated from all Torrenticola , including other members of the Tricolor Complex, by having a distinct dorsal pattern. Although the spots always have this basic construction, there is great variability between specimens. T. tricolor are most similar to other members of the Tricolor Complex that have bold patterning ( T. larvata , T. unimaculata , T. trimaculata , cardia , kringi , and T. mohawk ). T. tricolor can be further differentiated from T. larvata by being rounder (dorsum length/width = 1.2-1.38 in T. tricolor , 1.41-1.57 in T. larvata ) and stockier pedipalp tibiae (length/width ♀ = 3.0-3.11 in T. tricolor , 3.25-3.5 in T. larvata ; ♂ = 2.7-2.8 in T. tricolor , 3.1-3.2 in T. larvata ). T. tricolor can be further differentiated from T. trimaculata by having longer genital field (♀ = 187.5-210 in T. tricolor , 157.5-185 in T. trimaculata ; ♂ = 145-170 in T. tricolor , 120-140 in T. trimaculata ) and a slightly more elongate rostrum (length/width ♀ = 2.14-2.39 in T. tricolor , 1.91-2.1 in T. trimaculata ; ♂ = 2.37-2.5 in T. tricolor , 2.05-2.22 in T. trimaculata ). T. tricolor can be further differentiated from T. unimaculata by having stockier pedipalp tibiae (♀ = 3.0-3.11 in T. tricolor , 3.2-3.4 in T. unimaculata ; ♂ = 2.69-2.8 in T. tricolor , 2.9-3.11 in T. unimaculata ) and shorter medial suture in females (15-22.5 in T. tricolor , 40-47.5 in T. unimaculata ). T. tricolor can be further differentiated from T. cardia by having a rounder dorsum (length/width = 1.2-1.38 in T. tricolor , 1.39-1.54 in T. cardia ) and longer pedipalpal genua (75-83 in T. tricolor , 60-70 in T. cardia ). T. tricolor can be further differentiated from T. kringi by having a stockier rostrum (length/width = 2.14-2.50 in T. tricolor , 2.67-3.13 in T. kringi ). T. tricolor can be differentiated from T. mohawk by having a more elongate rostrum (length/width ♀ = 2.14-2.39 in T. tricolor , 1.80-2.00 in T. mohawk ; ♂ = 2.37-2.50 in T. tricolor , 2.00-2.13 in T. mohawk ).

Re-description.

Male (Figure 253) (n = 6) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (580-660 (640) long; 435-520 (520) wide) circular to ellipsoid with reddish-purple or bluish-purple to navy blue coloration in two large posterior spots and a smaller anterior spot all merged together, often with orange between the posterior spots. Anterio-medial platelets (120-137.5 (137.5) long; 62.5-70 (70) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (175-207.5 (192.5) long; 72.5-95 (95) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 usually closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars, occasionally halfway between the dorsum edge and muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 295-375 (325)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.23-1.38 (1.23); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.33-1.60 (1.60); anterio-medial platelet length/width 1.92-2.00 (1.96); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.03-2.55 (2.03); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.40-1.58 (1.40).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (247.5-295 (247.5) long (ventral); 197.5-226 (197.5) long (dorsal); 105-122.5 (112.5) tall) colorless. Rostrum (107.5-125 (107.5) long; 45-52.5 (45) wide) short and conical. Chelicerae (254-290 (260) long) with curved fangs (42-56 (52.5) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.20-2.62 (2.20); rostrum length/width 2.37-2.50 (2.39). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (37.5-45 (37.5) long); femur (95-110 (95) long); genu (70-80 (75) long); tibia (76.25-90 (76.25) long; 28.75-32.5 (28.75) wide); tarsus (22.5-27.5 (22.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.27-1.45 (1.27); tibia/femur 0.80-0.86 (0.80); tibia length/width 2.65-2.80 (2.65).

Venter - (720-804 (790) long; 448-660 (660) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (110-145 (126.25) long; 75-97.5 (85) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (105-137.5 (105) long). Genital plates (145-170 (157.5) long; 107.5-115 (107.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (271-290.5 (280) long (total); 139-163 (150) long (medial)); Cx-3 (316-401 (382.5) wide); anterior venter (255-297.5 (262.5) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.33-1.61 (1.49); anterior venter/genital field length 1.67-1.92 (1.67); anterior venter length/genital field width 2.37-2.77 (2.44); anterior venter/medial suture 2.16-2.50 (2.50).

Female (Figure 254) (n = 6) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (600-755 (610) long; 470-575 (510) wide) circular to ellipsoid with reddish-purple or bluish-purple to navy blue coloration in two large posterior spots and a smaller anterior spot all merged together, often with orange between the posterior spots. Anterio-medial platelets (135-148.75 (137.5) long; 66.25-75 (70) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (195-207.5 (195) long; 82.5-100 (100) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 usually closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars, occasionally halfway between the dorsum edge and muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 320-410 (320)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.20-1.35 (1.20); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.36-1.59 (1.59); anterio-medial platelet length/width 1.93-2.20 (1.96); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 1.95-2.52 (1.95); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.33-1.46 (1.42).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (285-330 (285) long (ventral); 210-251 (210) long (dorsal); 132.5-142.5 (132.5) tall) colorless. Rostrum (112.5-137.5 (112.5) long; 52.5-57.5 (52.5) wide) short and conical. Chelicerae (300-332 (300) long) with curved fangs (49-63 (52.5) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.15-2.42 (2.15); rostrum length/width 2.14-2.39 (2.14). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (42.5-47.5 (42.5) long); femur (107.5-120 (107.5) long); genu (75-82.5 (75) long); tibia (90-105 (90) long; 30-33.75 (30) wide); tarsus (22.5-27.5 (22.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.41-1.48 (1.43); tibia/femur 0.84-0.89 (0.84); tibia length/width 3.00-3.11 (3.00).

Venter - (690-890 (740) long; 561-665 (665) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (145-165 (145) long; 91.25-102.5 (91.25) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (15-22.5 (20) long). Genital plates (187.5-210 (187.5) long; 155-171.25 (167.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (265-311 (265) long (total); 125-151.75 (125) long (medial)); Cx-3 (375-433 (375) wide); anterior venter (152.5-192.5 (152.5) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.53-1.70 (1.59); anterior venter/genital field length 0.81-0.95 (0.81); anterior venter length/genital field width 0.91-1.18 (0.91); anterior venter/medial suture 7.63-11.83 (7.63).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Although Habeeb (1957) did not specify an etymology for the specific epithet ( tricolor ), it surely refers to his comment on the dorsal coloration, "color black with some red and white" (tres, L. three; color, L. color).

Distribution.

Northeastern and southward throughout the Appalachians (Figure 252). T. tricolor was previously known only from northern New Jersey.

Remarks.

Torrenticola tricolor group with other members of the Tricolor Complex with high support and specimens of this species are less than 2.4% different in COI sequence from each other. This within-species sequence variability is higher than in many species hypotheses presented herein. However, given the topology in the COI tree (Figure 14) and morphological similarity, it seems apparent that the variability represents a continuum across a large distribution, rather than isolated species. In all analyses, T. tricolor group with two other species which also have dorsal spots: T. trimaculata and T. unimaculata . This clade represents some of the most distinctive of all Torrenticola . This species is greater than 7% different in COI from sister species.

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