Torrenticola delicatexa Habeeb, 1955

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 delicatexa Habeeb, 1955

T. amplexa delicatexa: Habeeb 1955: 4; 1957: 1.

T. delicatexa : Habeeb 1961: 2; 1967: 3 • Viets 1987: 759.

Material examined.

Type series. HOLOTYPE (♂): from USA, New Jersey, Sussex County, Flatbrookeville, Flatbrook, 12 Oct 1953, by H Habeeb, HH530113.

PARATYPES (1 ♀; 0 ♂): New Jersey, USA: 1 ♀ (ALLOTYPE) from Sussex County, Flatbrookeville, Flatbrook, 12 Oct 1953, by H Habeeb, HH530113.

OTHER MATERIAL (19 ♀; 7 ♂): North Carolina, USA: 1 ♀ from Haywood County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Cataloochee River (35°38'45"N, 83°4'34"W), 6 Sep 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090099 • Maine, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Franklin County, Small Falls picnic area beside Route 4, Sandy River (44°52'N, 70°31'W), 5 Jul 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890069 • New Hampshire, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Woodstock County, beside Route 118, Jackman Brook (44°0'N, 71°45'W), 11 Sep 1992, by IM Smith, IMS920036 • Pennsylvania, USA: 1 ♀ 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 2 ♂ from Fayette County, Ohiopyle State Park, Laurel Run (39°50'58"N, 79°30'51"W), 10 Aug 2014, by MJ Skvarla, MS 14-0810-005 • 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 • Quebec, Canada: 1 ♀ from Stanstead County, 1 kilometer south of Rock Island, Tomifobia River, Tompkin Stream, (45°0'31"N, 72°7'6"W), 20 Aug 1996, by IM Smith & M MacKenzie, IMS960056 • Tennessee, USA: 1 ♀ from Blount County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Abrams River (35°35'31"N, 83°51'21"W), 17 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100141 • 1 ♀ from Blount County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Little River (35°40'55"N, 83°39'6"W), 8 Sep 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090102 • 2 ♀ from Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, middle prong of Little Pigeon River (35°43'34"N, 83°24'2"W), 10 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100127 • 1 ♀ from Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, middle prong of Little Pigeon River (35°43'34"N, 83°24'2"W), 10 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100128 • 1 ♀ from Sevier County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Sugarlands Nature Trail, spring (35°40'47"N, 83°31'52"W), 18 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100147 • South Carolina, USA: 1 ♀ from Greenville County, Matthews Creek, 24 Apr 2014, by D Eargle, JRF 14-0424-001 • Vermont, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Addison County, beside road from Lincoln, Middlebury River, (44°0'N, 73°1'W), 6 Jul 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890075 • Virginia, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Montgomery County, Blacksburg, beside Route 321 at Caldwell, Craig Creek (37°20'0"N, 80°20'0"W), 12 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900089A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Patrick County, Round Meadow Creek (36°42'59"N, 80°25'29"W), 10 Jun 2006, by IM Smith, IMS060005A.

Type deposition.

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

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola delicatexa are similar to other members of Rusetria "Eastern 2-Plates" group ( T. biscutella , T. caerulea , T. feminellai , T. indistincta , T. malarkeyorum , T. microbiscutella , T. pendula , T. sellersorum , T. tysoni , T. ululata , and T. whitneyae ) in having anterio-lateral platelets fused to the dorsal plate, having dorsal coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions (except T. indistincta and T. ululata ), and being distributed in the east. T. delicatexa can be differentiated from T. ululata , T. indistincta , and T. feminellai by dorsal coloration and pattern. T. delicatexa can be differentiated from T. tysoni by having a stockier rostrum (length/width = 2.33-3.00 in T. delicatexa , 3.06-3.50 in A34). T. delicatexa can be differentiated from T. pendula by having a stockier gnathosomal bay (length/width = 1.28-2.22 in T. delicatexa , 2.42-2.90 in T. pendula ), and a longer dorsum (♀ = 560-620 in T. delicatexa , 630-650 in T. pendula ; ♂ = 420-465 in T. delicatexa , 500 in T. pendula ). T. delicatexa can be differentiated from T. microbiscutella by having a less elongate dorsum (length/width = 1.38-1.56 in T. delicatexa , 1.63-1.75 in T. microbiscutella ). Female T. delicatexa can be differentiated from female T. malarkeyorum , T. biscutella , and T. caerulea by having a longer genital field (175-185 in T. delicatexa , 153-170 in others). Male T. delicatexa can be differentiated from male T. biscutella by having a more ovoid dorsum (length/width = 1.44-1.56 in T. delicatexa ; 1.37-1.42 in T. biscutella ). Female T. delicatexa can be differentiated from female T. sellersorum by having a slightly more ovoid dorsum (length/width = 1.38-1.44 in T. delicatexa , 1.23-1.37 in T. sellersorum ). Male T. delicatexa do not have any measurement differences with male T. malarkeyorum , T. caerulea , and T. sellersorum ; however, they can be differentiated by dorsal coloration. T. delicatexa can be differentiated from T. whitneyae by having a slightly more ovoid dorsum (length/width ♀ = 1.38-1.44 in T. delicatexa , 1.26-1.38 in T. whitneyae ; ♂ = 1.44-1.56 in T. delicatexa , 1.35-1.37 in T. whitneyae ) and by dorsal coloration. Additionally, male T. delicatexa can be differentiated from male T. whitneyae by having more elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width = 2.89-3.63 in T. delicatexa , 2.48-2.70 in T. whitneyae ).

Re-description.

Male (Figure 51) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (410-465 (465) long; 270-320 (320) wide) ovoid with highly variable coloration, reddish-purple to purple (occasionally bluish-purple) separated into anterior and posterior portions. Anterio-medial platelets (83.75-102.5 (102.5) long; 30-32.5 (32.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (122.5-132.5 (132.5) long; 40-55 (52.5) wide) fused to dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 205-255 (255)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.44-1.56 (1.45); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.23-1.37 (1.25); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.79-3.17 (3.15); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.36-3.06 (2.52); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.29-1.46 (1.29).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (235-247.5 (247.5) long (ventral); 172.5-193.75 (194) long (dorsal); 97.5-107.5 (107.5) tall) colorless. Rostrum (90-100 (100) long; 32.5-37.5 (37.5) wide). Chelicerae (220-230 long) with curved fangs (45-52.5 (50) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.30-2.45 (2.30); rostrum length/width 2.67-2.81 (2.67). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (33.75-40 (40) long); femur (82.5-92.5 (92.5) long); genu (50-55 (55) long); tibia (62.5-72.5 (65) long; 20-22.5 (22.5) wide); tarsus (15-17.5 (17.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.59-1.75 (1.68); tibia/femur 0.70-0.83 (0.70); tibia length/width 2.89-3.63 (2.89).

Venter - (490-540 (540) long; 311-435 (435) wide) usually colorless; occasionally with faint reddish-purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (120-135 (135) long; 57.5-72.5 (72.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (55-75 (62.5) long). Genital plates (105-110 (106.25) long; 95-102.5 (102.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (220-235 (235) long (total); 78-100 (100) long (medial)); Cx-3 (240-297.5 (297.5) wide); anterior venter (160-175 (170) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.86-2.22 (1.86); anterior venter/genital field length 1.52-1.60 (1.60); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.64-1.79 (1.66); anterior venter/medial suture 2.33-2.91 (2.72).

Female (Figure 52) (n = 6) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (560-620 (620) long; 390-440 (435) wide) ovoid with highly variable coloration, reddish-purple to purple (occasionally bluish-purple) separated into anterior and posterior portions. Anterio-medial platelets (125-140 (140) long; 36.25-45 (42.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (152.5-172.5 (162.5) long; 57.5-70 (70) wide) fused to dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 295-350 (330)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.38-1.44 (1.43); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.26-1.33 (1.32); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.83-3.52 (3.29); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.26-2.88 (2.32); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.16-1.33 (1.16).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (305-345 (345) long (ventral); 216-260 (260) long (dorsal); 145-165 (160) tall) colorless. Rostrum (115-135 (135) long; 45-55 (45) wide). Chelicerae (312-350 (350) long) with curved fangs (54-75 (70) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 1.97-2.22 (2.16); rostrum length/width 2.33-3.00 (3.00). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (42.5-52.5 (47.5) long); femur (105-130 (128.75) long); genu (67.5-75 (72.5) long); tibia (81.25-90 (87.5) long; 22.5-30 (30) wide); tarsus (20-22.5 (22.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.56-1.78 (1.78); tibia/femur 0.65-0.77 (0.68); tibia length/width 2.92-3.61 (2.92).

Venter - (640-690 (690) long; 431-540 (540) wide) usually colorless; occasionally with faint reddish-purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (132.5-175 (157.5) long; 85-117.5 (117.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture absent. Genital plates (175-197.5 (197.5) long; 150-172.5 (170) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (216-295 (295) long (total); 93-135 (135) long (medial)); Cx-3 (304-400 (400) wide); anterior venter (115-135 (135) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.28-2.06 (1.34); anterior venter/genital field length 0.64-0.76 (0.68); anterior venter length/genital field width 0.71-0.83 (0.79).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Habeeb (1955) did not offer an explanation for the specific epithet ( delicatexa ) and we are unable to offer helpful speculation.

Distribution.

Appalachians (Figure 50).

Remarks.

In all analyses, Torrenticola delicatexa groups with members of the Rusetria Complex with high support and specimens of this species were less than 2% different in COI sequence from each other. However, one specimen from Tennessee (DNA#1839) was 5% different; this specimen was collected from the same river as the other specimens and was indistinguishable morphologically. We refrain from speculating on this COI variation, but consider this specimen as an outlier, and thus within our hypothesis for T. delicatexa . The position of this species was only strongly supported in our combined analysis, where it is recovered as sister to two other species: T. ululata and T. glomerabilis . However, T. delicatexa does not resemble these species morphologically, and instead is quite similar to three more distantly-related species ( T. biscutella , T. malarkeyorum , and T. caerulea ).

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.