Torrenticola pulchra 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 pulchra Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from, USA, Illinois, Pope County, Eddyville; Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area; just below low water bridge at Hunting Branch Picnic Area, (37°31'31"N, 88°39'39"W), 1 September 2006, by IM Smith, S Yi, IMS060057.

PARATYPES (4 ♀; 5 ♂): Illinois, USA: 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from Pope County, Eddyville; Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area; just below low water bridge at Hunting Branch Picnic Area, (37°31'31"N, 88°39'39"W), 1 September 2006, by IM Smith, S Yi, IMS060057 • 3 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Pope County, Eddyville; Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area; just below low water bridge at Hunting Branch Picnic Area, (37°31'31"N, 88°39'39"W), 1 September 2006, by IM Smith, S Yi, IMS060057 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Pope County, Eddyville; Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area; Hunting Branch Picnic Area, (37°31'31"N, 88°40'40"W), 9 September 1994, by IM Smith, IMS940004

Type deposition.

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

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola pulchra are similar to other members of the Partial 2-Plate Group ( T. folkertsae , T. magnexa , and T. priapus ) in having anterio-lateral platelets partially fused to the dorsal plate and being distributed in the east. T. pulchra can be differentiated from other Partial 2-Plate Group by dorsal coloration and pattern. T. pulchra can be further differentiated from T. priapus and T. folkertsae by having a more ovoid dorsum (length/width = 1.4-1.61 in T. pulchra , 1.11-1.29 in others) and less elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width ♀ = 3.3-3.70 in T. pulchra , 3.9-4.83 in others, ♂ = 3.00-3.35 in T. pulchra , 3.5-4.33 in others). Male T. pulchra can be further differentiated from male T. magnexa by having a smaller genital field (length ♂ = 110-123 in T. pulchra , 125-148 in T. magnexa ; width ♂ = 87-95 in T. pulchra , 115-125 in T. magnexa ,) and less elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width ♂ = 3.00-3.35 in T. pulchra , 3.78-4.00 in T. magnexa ,). Female T. pulchra can be differentiated from female T. magnexa by having a thinner genital field (♀ 147-160 in T. pulchra , 170-188 in T. magnexa ) and shorter pedipalpal tibiae (♀ 82-93 in T. pulchra , 102-113 in T. magnexa ).

Description.

Female (Figure 203) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (640-710 (710) long; 450-490 (480) wide) ovoid with bold blue coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, posterior portion not meeting posterior limit of dorsal plate, and bold red medially. Anterio-medial platelets (130-145 (135) long; 50-55 (55) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (177.5-200 (190) long; 60-70 (60) wide) nearly fused to dorsal plate posteriorly. Dgl-4 closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 320-375 (355)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.40-1.48 (1.48); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.30-1.45 (1.35); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.45-2.90 (2.45); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.77-3.17 (3.17); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.33-1.41 (1.41).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (295-345 (345) long (ventral); 215-252.5 (252.5) long (dorsal); 130-155 (155) tall) faint blue coloration. Rostrum (117.5-135 (135) long; 40-45 (45) wide). Chelicerae (295-350 (350) long) with curved fangs (60-70 (70) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.03-2.33 (2.23); rostrum length/width 2.94-3.06 (3.00). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (47.5-52.5 (52.5) long); femur (118.75-132.5 (130) long); genu (67.5-75 (72.5) long); tibia (82.5-92.5 (90) long; 25-26.25 (25) wide); tarsus (17.5-20 (20) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.73-1.80 (1.79); tibia/femur 0.69-0.72 (0.69); tibia length/width 3.30-3.70 (3.60).

Venter - (740-840 (840) long; 530-560 (560) wide) with blue coloration. Gnathosomal bay (155-190 (190) long; 75-90 (75) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (10-20 (10) long). Genital plates (180-200 (192.5) long; 147.5-160 (155) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (280-350 (350) long (total); 130-162.5 (162.5) long (medial)); Cx-3 (325-365 (360) wide); anterior venter (160-175 (175) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.94-2.53 (2.53); anterior venter/genital field length 0.80-0.96 (0.91); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.00-1.13 (1.13); anterior venter/medial suture 8.00-17.50 (17.50).

Male (Figure 204) (n = 5) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (490-520 (500) long; 310-330 (315) wide ovoid with bold blue coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions, posterior portion not meeting posterior limit of dorsal plate, and bold red medially. Anterio-medial platelets (95-110 (100) long; 40-47.5 (42.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (140-160 (145) long; 45-55 (50) wide) nearly fused to dorsal plate posteriorly. Dgl-4 closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 235-265 (245)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.53-1.61 (1.59); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.23-1.36 (1.29); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.24-2.50 (2.35); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.80-3.56 (2.90); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.45-1.55 (1.45).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (255-262.5 (255) long (ventral); 182.5-195 (182.5) long (dorsal); 90-95 (90) tall) faint blue coloration. Rostrum (97.5-105 (97.5) long; 30-32.5 (30) wide). Chelicerae (240-255 (245) long) with curved fangs (45-50 (45) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.68-2.83 (2.83); rostrum length/width 3.23-3.50 (3.25). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (37.5-42.5 (37.5) long); femur (97.5-100 (100) long); genu (55-57.5 (57.5) long); tibia (67.5-72.5 (70) long; 21.25-22.5 (22.5) wide); tarsus (15-17.5 (15) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.70-1.82 (1.74); tibia/femur 0.69-0.73 (0.70); tibia length/width 3.00-3.35 (3.11).

Venter - (600-625 (600) long; 355-390 (355) wide) with blue coloration. Gnathosomal bay (120-130 (120) long; 60-67.5 (67.5) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (105-130 (125) long). Genital plates (110-122.5 (115) long; 87.5-95 (92.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (240-255 (240) long (total); 122.5-130 (125) long (medial)); Cx-3 (275-295 (280) wide); anterior venter (235-270 (255) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.78-2.08 (1.78); anterior venter/genital field length 2.00-2.32 (2.22); anterior venter length/genital field width 2.61-2.91 (2.76); anterior venter/medial suture 2.04-2.24 (2.04).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( pulchra ) refers to the bright and distinctive coloration of this species (pulchra, L. beautiful).

Distribution.

Southern Illinois (Figure 202).

Remarks.

Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire fresh material of Torrenticola pulchra and therefore this species is not included in our phylogenetic analyses. However, we were able to examine morphology with material preserved in GAW. The overall similarity, distribution, and partial fusion of the dorso-lateral platelets to the dorsal plate, are consistent with placing this species in the Rusetria Complex and within the Partial 2-Plate Identification Group.