Torrenticola kurtvietsi Cramer, 1992

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 kurtvietsi Cramer, 1992

Torrenticola kurtvietsi Cramer, 1992: 24.

Material examined

(9 ♀; 3 ♂). Arizona, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Cochise County, Chiricahua Mountains; Cave Creek Recreation Area; John Hands Picnic Area off Forest Road 42A west of Portal, (31°53'53"N, 109°13'13"W), 15 July 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870092A • 2 ♀ from Cochise County, Chiricahua Mountains; Cave Creek Recreation Area; John Hands Picnic Area off Forest Road 42A west of Portal, (31°53'53"N, 109°13'13"W), 15 July 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870092B • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Cochise County, Chiricahua Mountains; beside Forest Road 42 near junction with Forest Road 42B, (31°55'55"N, 109°15'15"W), 16 July 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870093A • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Cochise County, Chiricahua Mountains; Cave Creek Recreation Area; Stewart Campground beside Forest Road 42 west of Portal, (31°53'53"N, 109°10'10"W), 16 July 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870094 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Cochise County, Chiricahua Mountains; Sycamore Campground east of Sunizona, (31°52'52"N, 109°20'20"W), 15 July 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870091 • Mexico, Mexico: 1 ♀ from beside Hwy. 134 at Km 29, (19°59'59"N, 103°30'30"W), 7 May 1985, by IM Smith & C Cramer, IMS850138 • 1 ♀ from beside Hwy. 134 at Km 30, (21°0'0"N, 101°51'51"W), 14 May 1985, by IM Smith & C Cramer, IMS850139

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), and allotype (♂), deposited in Cristina Cramer’s collection at the Instituto de Biología, UNAM.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola kurtvietsi are similar to other members of the Rala Group ( T. rala , T. keesdavidsi , T. boettgeri , T. lamellipalpis , T. dolichodactyla , and T. anoplopalpa ) by being colorless, having incomplete hind coxal margins and being distributed in the southwest. T. kurtvietsi can be differentiated from all other Rala Group by having a more elongate gnathosomal bay (length/width = 4.47-5.43 in T. kurtvietsi , 1.48-2.73 in others), except T. boettgeri (3.85-5.00); and stockier pedipalpal tibiae (length/width = 1.75-2.00 in T. kurtvietsi , 2.71-5.20 in others), except T. boettgeri (1.86-2.14). T. kurtvietsi can be differentiated from T. boettgeri by having a less elongate dorsum (length/width = 1.29-1.42 in T. kurtvietsi , 1.74-1.82 in T. boettgeri ) and a more elongate subcapitulum (ventral length/width = 2.51-2.70 in T. kurtvietsi , 1.96-2.07 in T. boettgeri ).

Re-description.

Female (Figure 121) (n = 5) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (680-730 long; 510-560 wide) circular with light pink coloration without a distinct pattern or colorless. Anterio-medial platelets (135-150 long; 60-70 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (185-215 long; 75-80 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 360-410). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.29-1.34; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.34-1.44; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.07-2.25; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.47-2.80; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.33-1.48.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (310-332.5 long (ventral); 205-230 long (dorsal); 115-132.5 tall) colorless. Rostrum (105-112.5 long; 35-35 wide). Chelicerae (325-360 long) with curved fangs (45-55 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.51-2.70; rostrum length/width 3.00-3.21. Pedipalps short and stocky (especially tibiae) without extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (30-35 long); femur 78.75-87.5 long); genu (57.5-62.5 long); tibia (35-40 long; 20-20 wide); tarsus (12.5-15 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.37-1.48; tibia/femur 0.41-0.47; tibia length/width 1.75-2.00.

Venter - (840-915 long; 610-650 wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (180-205 long; 35-42.5 wide). Cxgl-4 apical. Medial suture (40-47.5 long). Genital plates (185-195 long; 165-177.5 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (340-360 long (total); 150-180 long (medial)); Cx-3 (370-390 wide); anterior venter (210-225 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 4.75-5.43; anterior venter/genital field length 1.08-1.18; anterior venter length/genital field width 1.18-1.33; anterior venter/medial suture 4.53-5.25.

Male (Figure 122) (n = 4) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (610-650 long; 450-470 wide) circular with light pink coloration without a distinct pattern or colorless. Anterio-medial platelets (140-150 long; 62.5-65 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (195-205 long; 70-75 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 345-360). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.31-1.42; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.30-1.35; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.19-2.31; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.67-2.79; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.33-1.46.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (297.5-310 long (ventral); 205-215 long (dorsal); 112.5-115 tall) colorless. Rostrum (100-107.5 long; 35-35 wide). Chelicerae (325-355 long) with curved fangs (50-50 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.64-2.70; rostrum length/width 2.86-3.07. Pedipalps short and stocky (especially tibiae) without extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (27.5-35 long); femur (75-82.5 long); genu (57.5-60 long); tibia (36.25-38.75 long; 18.75-21.25 wide); tarsus (10-15 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.29-1.43; tibia/femur 0.45-0.48; tibia length/width 1.81-2.00.

Venter - (785-815 long; 530-540 wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (185-195 long; 40-42.5 wide). Cxgl-4 apical. Medial suture (100-120 long). Genital plates (175-185 long; 135-140 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (340-350 long (total); 150-170 long (medial)); Cx-3 (360-370 wide); anterior venter (287.5-307.5 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 4.47-4.81; anterior venter/genital field length 1.58-1.71; anterior venter length/genital field width 135-140; anterior venter/medial suture 2.40-3.00.

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Cramer (1992) named this species in honor of Kurt O. Viets "in recognition of his great contribution to the knowledge of aquatic mites and especially for his invaluable efforts in bringing together the world catalog on this subject" (translated from Spanish).

Distribution.

Southeastern Arizona (probably also western New Mexico), extending south into Mexico (Figure 120).

Remarks.

Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire fresh material of Torrenticola kurtvietsi and therefore this species is not included in our phylogenetic analyses. We were also unable to examine type material. However, we were able to examine new material from Arizona and Mexico. Based upon overall similarity, incomplete hind coxal margins, distribution, and lack of coloration, this species fits within our concept of the Rala Identification Group.