Torrenticola malarkeyorum 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 malarkeyorum Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from USA, Missouri, Ozark County, Bryant Creek, downstream of Highway 95 bridge, 10 Sep 2011, by AJ Radwell, AJR110105A, DNA 2120.

PARATYPES (9 ♀; 7 ♂): Maine, USA: 1 ♂ from Aroostook County, Ashland, beside Route 11 at bridge, Aroostook River (46°38'N, 68°24'W), 4 Jul 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890067 • Missouri, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Oregon County, beside Route 19, north of Greer, Eleven Point River (36°48'N, 91°20'W), 28 Jun 1987, by IM Smith, IMS870056 • 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Ozark County, Bryant Creek, downstream of Highway 95 bridge, 10 Sep 2011, by AJ Radwell, AJR110105A • 1 ♀ from Ozark County, Bryant Creek, downstream of Highway 95 bridge, 10 Sep 2011, by AJ Radwell, AJR110105A • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from McDonald County, Tiff City, beside Route 43, Buffalo Creek (36°40'17"N, 94°36'17"W), 2 May 1996, by IM Smith, IMS960004 • New Brunswick, Canada: 3 ♀ from Charlotte County, Rollingham, Digdegaush River, beside Highway 770, 3 Oct 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110118 • 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 • Tennessee, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Blount County, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Cades Cove, Forge Creek (35°35'31"N, 83°51'21"W), 17 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100141 • 1 ♂ from Sevier Co., Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Middle Prong Little Pigeon River (35°43'33"N, 83°24'1"W), 12 Sep 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100131 • Virginia, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Amherst County, Upper Otter Creek Overlook beside Blue Ridge, Otter Creek (37°36'57"N, 79°19'27"W), 7 Sep 2007, by IM Smith, IMS070056A • 1 ♂ from Giles County, Mechanicsburg, beside Dismal Creek Road, Standrock Brook (37°11'38"N, 80°53'26"W), 9 Sep 2005, by IM Smith, IMS050066.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and most paratypes (5 ♀; 4 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (4 ♀; 3 ♂) deposited in the ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola malarkeyorum are similar to other members of the Rusetria "Eastern 2-Plates" group ( T. biscutella , T. caerulea , T. delicatexa , T. indistincta , T. pendula , T. sellersorum , T. tysoni , T. ululata , T. whitneyae , T. microbiscutella , and T. feminellai ) in having anterio-lateral platelets fused to the dorsal plate, having dorsal coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions (except T. ululata and T. indistincta ), and being distributed in the east. T. malarkeyorum can have variable coloration, including light bluish purple and reddish purple. Although several other species are purplish, some T. malarkeyorum are easily recognizable because they have bluish-purple coloration similar to T. tysoni and T. biscutella , albeit much fainter than these species. T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from T. ululata , T. indistincta , and T. feminellai by dorsal coloration and pattern. T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from T. tysoni by having a stockier rostrum (length/width = 2.57-2.89 in T. malarkeyorum , 3.06-3.5 in T. tysoni ). Female T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from female T. biscutella by having a longer subcapitulum (ventral length = 317.5-335 in T. malarkeyorum , 290-315 in T. biscutella ). Male T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from male T. biscutella by having a slightly more ovoid dorsum (length/width = 1.42-1.56 in T. malarkeyorum ; 1.37-1.42 in T. biscutella . Additionally, although T. malarkeyorum and T. biscutella have the same dorsal coloration and pattern, often the coloration is faint in T. malarkeyorum and bold in T. biscutella . Female T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from female T. caerulea by having a wider genital field (152.5-165 in T. malarkeyorum , 120-145 in T. caerulea ). Additionally, T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from T. caerulea by dorsal coloration and pattern. T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from T. pendula by having a stockier gnathosomal bay (length/width = 1.62-2.26 in T. malarkeyorum , 2.42-2.90 in T. pendula ); more elongate pedipalp tibiae (length/width = 3.22-3.60 in T. malarkeyorum , 2.78-3.05 in T. pendula ); and by dorsal pattern. T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from T. whitneyae by having more elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width = 3.22-3.60 in T. malarkeyorum , 2.42-2.95 in T. whitneyae ) and by anterior venter/genital field length (♀ = 0.85-0.89 in T. malarkeyorum , 0.59-0.75 in T. whitneyae ; ♂ = 1.52-1.88 in T. malarkeyorum , 1.37-1.43 in T. whitneyae ). T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from T. microbiscutella by having a less elongate dorsum (length/width = 1.33-1.56 in T. malarkeyorum , 1.63-1.75 in T. microbiscutella ). Female T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from female T. delicatexa by having a shorter genital field (162.5-170 in T. malarkeyorum , 175-198 in T. delicatexa ). Female T. malarkeyorum can be differentiated from female T. sellersorum by anterior venter/genital field length (0.85-0.89 in T. malarkeyorum , 0.69-0.77 in T. sellersorum ). Male T. malarkeyorum do not have any measurement differences with male T. delicatexa , and T. sellersorum ; however, they can be differentiated by dorsal coloration.

Description.

Female (Figure 138) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (590-640 (635) long; 425-470 (470) wide) ovoid with highly variable coloration, usually faint (occasionally bold) bluish-purple or reddish-purple separated into anterior and posterior portions, and with faint orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (121.25-135 (132.5) long; 41.25-47.5 (45) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (150-170 (170) long; 55-70 (70) wide) fused to dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 320-335 (330)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.33-1.41 (1.35); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.27-1.44 (1.42); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.68-3.18 (2.94); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.38-2.73 (2.43); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.11-1.36 (1.28).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (317.5-335 (335) long (ventral); 234-250 (250) long (dorsal); 135-155 (155) tall) colorless. Rostrum (123.75-130 (130) long; 45-47.5 (45) wide). Chelicerae (323.75-342.5 (342.5) long) with curved fangs (59-70 (70) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.13-2.35 (2.16); rostrum length/width 2.61-2.89 (2.89). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (42.5-50 (47.5) long); femur (115-123.75 (120) long); genu (67.5-72.5 (72.5) long); tibia (90-92.5 (90) long; 25-27.5 (27.5) wide); tarsus (17.5-20 (20) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.62-1.71 (1.66); tibia/femur 0.73-0.80 (0.75); tibia length/width 3.27-3.60 (3.27).

Venter - (700-770 (760) long; 482-600 (600) wide) colorless (occasionally with faint bluish-purple coloration). Gnathosomal bay (165-182.5 (182.5) long; 97.5-110 (110) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture absent. Genital plates (162.5-170 (170) long; 152.5-165 (165) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (284-330 (330) long (total); 116-145 (145) long (medial)); Cx-3 (316-385 (385) wide); anterior venter (137.5-150 (150) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.65-1.82 (1.66); anterior venter/genital field length 0.85-0.89 (0.88); anterior venter length/genital field width 0.88-0.95 (0.91).

Male (Figure 139) (n = 5) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (420-470 (470) long; 285-320 (320) wide) ovoid with highly variable coloration, usually faint (occasionally bold) bluish-purple or reddish-purple separated into anterior and posterior portions, and with faint orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (92.5-110 (110) long; 32.5-37.5 (37.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (117.5-127.5 (127.5) long; 45-52.5 (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-4 210-240 (240)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.42-1.56 (1.47); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.29-1.36 (1.33); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.80-3.15 (2.93); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.43-2.61 (2.43); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.12-1.32 (1.33).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (227.5-240 (230) long (ventral); 162-180 (163) long (dorsal); 95-100 (100) tall) colorless. Rostrum (90-95 (92.5) long; 32.5-35 (35) wide). Chelicerae (212.5-230 long) with curved fangs (40-50 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.28-2.53 (2.30); rostrum length/width 2.57-2.85 (2.64). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (32.5-40 (35) long); femur (76.25-87.5 (87.5) long); genu (52.5-55 (55) long); tibia (65-75 (75) long; 20-22.5 (22.5) wide); tarsus (15-17.5 (17.5) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.39-1.62 (1.59); tibia/femur 0.76-0.92 (0.86); tibia length/width 3.22-3.50 (3.33).

Venter - (495-560 (560) long; 320-405 (396) wide) colorless (occasionally with faint bluish-purple coloration). Gnathosomal bay (97.5-130 (115) long; 55-65 (65) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (65-72.5 (72.5) long). Genital plates (97.5-115 (110) long; 95-120 (105) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (197.5-230 (230) long (total); 90-115 (107) long (medial)); Cx-3 (250-300 (295) wide); anterior venter (160-200 (200) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.62-2.26 (1.77); anterior venter/genital field length 1.52-1.88 (1.82); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.53-2.00 (1.90); anterior venter/medial suture 2.37-2.92 (2.76).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( malarkeyorum ) named in honor of JRF’s sister, Mayme Malarkey and her family-Andy, Jack, Molly, and Lucy-who are a constant joy to all whom they encounter.

Distribution.

Eastern (Figure 137), especially highlands (Appalachians and Ozarks).

Remarks.

Torrenticola malarkeyorum groups with other members of the Rusetria Complex with high support and all specimens are less than 2% different in COI sequence from each other. In all analyses, T. malarkeyorum groups with two other morphologically similar species: T. biscutella and T. caerulea . These three species are 3-5% different from each other in COI sequence. The three of these species are morphologically similar to the more distantly-related T. delicatexa .

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