Torrenticola pollani 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 pollani Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, Alabama, Lauderdale County, off Natchez Parkway, 7 km south of Tennessee state line (34°56'31"N, 87°49'41"W), 27 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100162, DNA 1288.

PARATYPES (4 ♀; 11 ♂): Alabama, USA: 2 ♂ from Clay County, beside Forest Route 649, 0.8 kilometers northeast of road from Forest Route 600 to Campbell Springs, Talladega Creek, 2 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900075A • 1 ♂ from Cleburne County, beside Route 431, 3.3 kilometers southeast of Calhoun, Jackson Creek (33°36'N, 85°42'W), 2 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900074 • 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Lauderdale County, off Natchez Parkway, 7 km south of Tennessee state line (34°56'31"N, 87°49'41"W), 27 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100162 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Lauderdale County, off Natchez Parkway, 7 km south of Tennessee state line (34°56'31"N, 87°49'41"W), 24 Sep 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090121 • 3 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Lauderdale County, off Natchez Parkway, 7 km south of Tennessee state line (34°56'31"N, 87°49'41"W), 27 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100162 • Georgia, USA: 1 ♂ from Floyd County, beside road from Everett Springs to Villanow, 1.8 kilometers south of The Pocket Campground, Johns Creek, 4 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900076 • 1 ♂ from Floyd County, beside road from Everett Springs to Villanow, 1.4 kilometers south of The Pocket Campground, tributary of Johns Creek, 4 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900076 • 2 ♂ from Floyd County, The Pocket Campground, between Everett Springs and Villanow, tributary of Johns Creek, 4 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900073A • 1 ♂ from White County, Helen, beside Road to Anna Ruby Falls, Smith Creek (34°44'N, 83°43'W), 24 Sep 1992, by IM Smith, IMS920051.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and other paratypes (2 ♀; 5 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (2 ♀; 5 ♂) deposited in ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola pollani are similar to other members of the Rusetria “4-Plates” group ( T. dunni , T. glomerabilis , T. kittatinniana , T. rufoalba , and T. shubini ) and T. skvarlai in having anterio-lateral platelets free from the dorsal plate, dorsal coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, and indistinct hind coxal margins. T. pollani can be differentiated from T. dunni by having a smaller dorsum (length ♀ = 535-560 in T. pollani , 605-680 in T. dunni ; ♂ = 440-490 in T. pollani , 500-540 in T. dunni ; width ♀, 410-420 in T. pollani , 440-490 in T. dunni ; ♂ = 350-370 in A38, 310-340 in T. pollani ); and a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.3-3.8 in T. pollani , 2.8-3.1 in T. dunni ). T. pollani can be differentiated from T. shubini by having more elongate tibiae (length/width ♀ = 4.00-4.18 in T. pollani , 3.35-3.60 in T. shubini ; ♂ = 3.44-3.75 in T. pollani , 3.11-3.22 in T. shubini ) and a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.27-3.82 in T. pollani , 2.24-2.85 in T. shubini ). T. pollani can be differentiated from T. glomerabilis by having more elongate anterio-medial platelets (length/width ♀ = 2.5-3.0 in T. pollani , 1.9-2.3 in T. glomerabilis ; ♂ = 2.3-2.5 in T. pollani , 1.9-2.2 in T. glomerabilis ) and thinner dorsum (♀ = 410-420 in T. pollani , 460-490 in T. glomerabilis ; ♂ = 310-340 in T. pollani , 395-430 in T. glomerabilis ). T. pollani can be differentiated from T. kittatinniana by having a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.27-3.82 in T. pollani , 2.71-3.16 in T. kittatinniana ) and more elongate tibiae (length/width ♀ = 3.8-4.2 in T. pollani , 3.3 in T. kittatinniana ; ♂ = 3.44-3.75 in T. pollani , 2.80 in T. kittatinniana ). T. pollani can be differentiated from T. rufoalba by having a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.27-3.82 in T. pollani , 2.96-3.06 in T. rufoalba ). Female T. pollani can be differentiated from female T. rufoalba by having more elongate tibiae (length/width = 3.8-4.2 in T. pollani , 3.5 in T. rufoalba ). Male T. pollani can be differentiated from male T. rufoalba by having a longer anterior venter (235-250 in T. pollani , 195 in T. rufoalba ). T. pollani can be differentiated from T. skvarlai by having a conical pedipalpal femoral tubercle, whereas T. skvarlai has a broad and flat pedipalpal femoral tubercle, and by having a longer anterior venter (♀ = 155-163 in T. pollani , 140-153 in T. skvarlai ; ♂ = 235-250 in T. pollani , 177.5-205 in T. skvarlai ).

Description.

Female (Figure 194) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (535-560 (550) long; 410-420 (415) wide) ovoid with purple to bluish-purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, and occasionally with faint strip of orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (105-125 (105) long; 40-47.5 (40) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (152.5-170 (152.5) long; 52.5-62.5 (52.5) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 270-290 (270)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.29-1.37 (1.33); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.45-1.54 (1.54); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.50-3.03 (2.63); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.64-2.93 (2.90); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.34-1.47 (1.45).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (310-332.5 (310) long (ventral); 236-257.5 (237) long (dorsal); 122.5-132.5 (122.5) tall) colorless. Rostrum (133.75-150 (133.75) long; 35-41.25 (35) wide). Chelicerae (310-340 (315) long) with curved fangs (53-60 (56) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.43-2.61 (2.53); rostrum length/width 3.27-3.82 (3.82). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (37.5-42.5 (40) long); femur (115-127.5 (117.5) long); genu (65-70 (65) long); tibia (80-92.5 (80) long; 20-22.5 (20) wide); tarsus (17.5-20 (17.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.70-1.92 (1.81); tibia/femur 0.68-0.78 (0.68); tibia length/width 3.89-4.18 (4.00).

Venter - (610-675 (675) long; 461-490 (489) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (142.5-170 (142.5) long; 77.5-97.5 (87.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (12.5-20 (17.5) long). Genital plates (157.5-175 (157.5) long; 137.5-152.5 (137.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (258-290 (259) long (total); 89-121 (96) long (medial)); Cx-3 (304-364 (310) wide); anterior venter (155-162.5 (157.5) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.63-2.13 (1.63); anterior venter/genital field length 0.89-1.02 (1.00); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.02-1.15 (1.15); anterior venter/medial suture 7.75-12.70 (9.00).

Male (Figure 195) (n = 5) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (440-490 (450) long; 310-340 (315) wide) ovoid with purple to bluish-purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, and occasionally with faint strip of orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (92.5-102.5 (100) long; 40-42.5 (42.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (140-155 (142.5) long; 42.5-50 (45) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 210-250 (215)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.33-1.44 (1.43); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.32-1.48 (1.47); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.31-2.44 (2.35); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 3.10-3.29 (3.17); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.43-1.59 (1.43).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (265-285 (265) long (ventral); 202-208 (203) long (dorsal); 87.5-100 (97.5) tall) colorless. Rostrum (111.25-122.5 (111.25) long; 32.5-35 (32.5) wide). Chelicerae (257-280 (263) long) with curved fangs (45-50 (47) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.72-3.06 (2.72); rostrum length/width 3.41-3.54 (3.42). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (35-40 (35) long); femur (100-103.75 (101.25) long); genu (60-62.5 (60) long); tibia (72.5-80 (75) long; 20-22.5 (20) wide); tarsus (15-17.5 (17.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.64-1.73 (1.69); tibia/femur 0.70-0.78 (0.74); tibia length/width 3.41-3.75 (3.75).

Venter - (540-600 (555) long; 358-408 (359) wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (95-127.5 (116.25) long; 65-77.5 (70) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (92.5-110 (93.75) long). Genital plates (105-120 (110) long; 80-90 (83.75) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (210-250 (246) long (total); 84-125 (111) long (medial)); Cx-3 (266-300 (266) wide); anterior venter (235-250 (237.5) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.46-1.89 (1.66); anterior venter/genital field length 2.08-2.29 (2.16); anterior venter length/genital field width 2.78-3.03 (2.84); anterior venter/medial suture 2.27-2.54 (2.53).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( pollani ) named in honor of author Michael Pollan, whose influential books breach mere accounts on food culture and enter insightful discussions of human ecology.

Distribution.

Southeastern (northern Alabama and Georgia) (Figure 193).

Remarks.

In all analyses, Torrenticola pollani groups with other members of the Rusetria Complex with high support and specimens of this species are less than 1% different in COI sequence from each other. In all analyses, Torrenticola pollani groups with two other species with high support: T. dunni and T. shubini . These species are greater than 5-10% different from each other in COI sequence. Given our collection efforts in the southern Appalachians, it is reasonable to speculate that T. pollani does not overlap in range with either T. dunni or T. shubini . However, our collections are sparse in the coastal plains and we expect future collecting to expand the distribution southward.

Based upon overall similarity, dorso-lateral platelet fusion, and distribution, we were able to place this species within the Eastern 2-Plate 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.