Testudacarus vulgaris Habeeb, 1954

O'Neill, Joseph C., Fisher, J. Ray, Nelson, Whitney A., Skvarla, Micheal J., Fisher, Danielle M. & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2016, Systematics of testudacarine torrent mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Torrenticolidae) with descriptions of 13 new species from North America, ZooKeys 582, pp. 13-110 : 32-37

Taxon classification Animalia Trombidiformes Torrenticolidae

Testudacarus vulgaris Habeeb, 1954

Testudacarus vulgaris : Habeeb 1954: 14; Habeeb 1956: 2; Viets 1956: 256; Habeeb 1959a: 21; Crowell 1961: 329; Lundblad 1967: 418; Habeeb 1967: 4; Imamura 1976: 283; Smith 1987: 51; Viets 1987: 724-725 Smith 2010: 295, 302, 305.

Testudacarus american vulgaris : Habeeb 1969: 1, 2; Viets 1987: 724-725.

Testudacarus minimus vulgaris : Habeeb 1974a: 1; Viets 1987: 724-725.

Type series.

Syntypes (1♀, 1♂): New Brunswick, Canada: from Victoria County, Salmon River, 21 June 1953, by H. Habeeb, 87-53

Other material examined.

Other (18♀, 19♂): Ontario, Canada: 1♀ and 1♂ from Lennox and Addington County, Hydes Creek, beside Highway 41 23.7km north of Highway 28 at Denbigh (45°11'22.00"N, 77°13'38.00"W), 29 April 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100023; 1♀ from Hastings County, Maple Leaf and Papineau Creek, east of Davis Road before Highway 62, 18 August 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110053; New Brunswick, Canada: 2♀ and 1♂ from Victoria County, Little Wapske River, Plaster Rock beside Highway108 20.5km east of Highway109, 5 September 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110061; Nova Scotia, Canada: 1♂ from Inervess County, Cheticamp River, 10 September 2011, by IM Smith, IMS110071; Tennessee, USA: 1♀ and 1♂ from Monroe County, Turkey Creek, beside Forest Road #210 just east of Forest Road #35 7.1km southeast of Route 165 (35°20'28.00"N, 84°11'30.00"W), 12 September 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090110; 2♂ from Sevier County, Great Smoky Mountains Nation Park, Rhododendron Creek, beside Greenbrier Road 2.2 km south of Route 321 (35°43'32.00"N, 83°24'2.00"W), 2 September 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090093; North Carolina, USA: 2♀ and 1♂ from Haywood County, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Big Creek, Waterville Big Creek Picnic Area (35°44'59.00"N, 83°6'42.00"W), 16 September 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100138; 1♀ and 1♂ from Haywood County, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cataloochee Creek, beside Mount Sterling Road near bridge 1.7km north of road to campground (35°38'45.00"N, 83°4'34.00"W), 6 September 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090099; 1♀ from Haywood County, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cataloochee Creek, beside Mount Sterling Road near bridge 1.7km north of road to campground (35°38'45.00"N, 83°4'32.00"W), 20 September 2010, by IM Smith, IMS100150; South Dakota, USA: 1♀ and 1♂ from Lawrence County, Jim Creek, south of Nemo Road on Goodhope Road behind cab at Green Mountain Black Hills (44°9'9.00"N, 103°28'51.00"W), 15 August 2012, by AJ Radwell and JA Hinsey, AJR12-0815-421; Colorado, USA: 1♂ from San Miguel County, San Miguel River, beside Route 145 12.5km northwest of junction with road to Telluride (37°59'17.00"N, 107°59'34.00"W), 31 July 2012, by AJ Radwell and JA Hinsey, AJR12-0731-400; Pennsylvania, USA: 1♂ from Fayette County, Ohiophyle State Park, Laurel Run, fishing access #2 off T798 (Meadow Run Road) (39°50'58.00"N, 79°30'51.00"W), 10 August 2014, by MJ Skvarla, MS14-0810-005; 2♀ and 2♂ from Fayette County, State Game Lands #51, Dunbar Creek, off Furnace Hill Road East of Dunbar (39°56'16.10"N, 79°35'3.70"W), 10 August 2014, by MJ Skvarla, MS14-0810-002; California, USA: 1♂ from Monterey County, Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur River, off Route 1 (36°16'31.00"N, 121°49'14.00"W), 4 September 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF13-0904-003; 1♂ from Inyo County, Inyo National Forest, Bishop Creek, downstream of campground (37°17'23.00"N, 118°33'14.00"W), 2 September 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF13-0902-003; 1♂ from Alpine County, Markleeville Creek, off Route 89 downstream of bridge (38°41'39.00"N, 119°46'41.00"W), 30 August 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF13-0830-001; 1♂ from Mendocino County, Jackson Dem onstration State Park, North Fork of Big River, (39°20'46.00"N, 123°30'35.00"W), 22 August 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF13-0822-002; 1♀ from Mono County, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Little Walker River, off Route 108 downstream of tunnel (38°20'57.00"N, 119°27'15.00"W), 31 August 2013, by JR Fisher, JRF13-0831-002; 1♀ from Trinity County, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, North Fork of Trinity River, (40°46'47.00"N, 123°7'46.00"W), 18 August 2013, JRF13-0818-005; Oregon, USA: 2♂ from Douglas County, Umpqua National Forest, Calf Creek, (43°17'28.00"N, 122°37'12.00"W), 12 August 2013, by JC O’Neill and WA Nelson, JNOW13-0812-006; Utah, USA: 2♀ from Utah County, Uinta National Forest, Hobble Creek, just upstream on right fork Hobble Creek Road from Cherry Campground (40°10'9.00"N, 111°28'26.00"W), 22 July 2012, by JR Fisher and WA Nelson, ROW12-0722-001; Idaho, USA: 1♀ from Fremont County, Targhee National Forest, Rock Creek, downstream of tributary (44°6'44.00"N, 111°15'4.00"W), 25 July 2012, by JR Fisher and WA Nelson, ROW12-0725-001; Arkansas, USA: 1♀ from Searcy County, Tomahawk Creek, (36°1'20.00"N, 92°40'43.00"W), 20 July 2009, by AJ Radwell, AJR090101.

Type deposition.

Syntypes (1♀, 1♂) deposited at the CNC.

Diagnosis.

Testudacarus vulgaris most resemble Testudacarus minimus and Testudacarus deceptivus . Throughout the majority of their shared range in the west, Testudacarus minimus are orange to red and Testudacarus vulgaris are violet to blue. While these two species have overlapping size ranges, Testudacarus minimus are generally larger. Testudacarus vulgaris females rarely exhibit a dorsal length over 600 µm and males rarely exceed 500 µm while Testudacarus minimus females and males are usually larger than 600 and 500 µm, respectively. Testudacarus deceptivus have only been found in two counties in California and cannot be distinguished from either Testudacarus minimus or Testudacarus vulgaris using morphology. Testudacarus vulgaris are the only members of their complex that have been found east of the Great Plains.

Redescription.

Female (n=18) with characteristics of the genus with following specifications.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum [151-190 ventral length; 90-114 dorsal length; 84-115 tall] elliptical to ovoid with short rostrum. Chelicerae [133-170 long] unmodified with lightly curved fangs [28-35 long]. Pedipalp [169-211 long] unmodified. Trochanter [23-32 long; 28-37 wide]. Femur [46-62 long; 33-45 wide]. Genu [33-42 long; 28-36 wide]. Tibia [42-53 long; 19-26 wide]. Tarsus [18-23 long; 9-12 wide].

Dorsum (Fig. 16) - [547-654 long; 394-517 wide] round to ovoid. Dorsal plate [391-582 long; 330-470 wide]. Primary sclerotization [357-500 long] color variable (Fig. 17). Dorso-glandularia-4 [143-247 apart] in line with and lateral to [39-65] muscle scars. Platelets mostly colorless but with hints of primary sclerotization color. All three anterior platelets with color either completely absent or present proximally but restricted distally. Anterio-medial platelet [111-142 long; 67-94 wide] rounded trapezoid noticeably smaller than anterio-lateral platelets. Anterio-lateral platelets [152-203 long; 68-88 wide]. Lateral platelets as follows: lateral-1 [39-72 long; 29-44 wide]; lateral-2 [108-141 long; 25-35 wide]; lateral-3 [16-60 long; 15-22 wide]; lateral- 4 [99-136 long; 21-36 wide]; lateral-5 [43-72 long; 20-29 wide]; lateral-6 [77-109 long; 15-38 wide]; lateral-7 [59-73 long; 20-31 wide].

Venter (Fig. 16) - [670-835 long; 436-557 wide] round to ovoid. Primary sclerotization [522-686 long] with dorsal plate color or colorless. Gnathosomal bay [53-80 dorsal length; 118-169 ventral length; 51-70 wide]. Coxal field [404-500 long; 289-398 wide]. Coxa-I [213-273 long; 82-115 midlength]. Coxa-II + III [97-125 distance to top of coxa-II; 157-192 distance to top of coxa-III; 299-371 distance to bottom of coxa-III; 196-257 total length]. Coxa-IV [285-339 distance to top; 110-161 total length]. Genital field [275-348 distance to top; 421-516 distance to bottom; 141-171 total length; 105-143 width; 148-187 distance from gnathosomal bay; 50-81 distance from coxa-I; 140-234 distance to excretory pore; 231-340 distance to caudad]. Eggs [130-150 long; 1-4 eggs]. Distance to excretory pore [582-750].

Legs - colorless, or with same color as dorsal plate. Total leg and podomere lengths as follows: Leg-I [401-497 total; trochanter 50-61; basifemur 74-85; telofemur 55-72; genu 72-96; tibia 75-97; tarsus 78-97]. Leg-II [417-564 total; trochanter 51-63; basifemur 71-92; telofemur 57-72; genu 75-100; tibia 92-118; tarsus 96-120]. Leg-III [513-664 total; trochanter 55-68; basifemur 71-96; telofemur 58-82; genu 91-124; tibia 112-147; tarsus 124-157]. Leg-IV [726-911 total; trochanter 85-105; basifemur 103-132; telofemur 99-138; genu 134-174; tibia 145-177; tarsus 148-185].

Male (n=17) similar to female except for sexually dimorphic characters previously discussed and with following specifications.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum [128-155 ventral length; 83-96 dorsal length; 78-95 tall]. Chelicerae [115-145 long]. Fangs [25-29 long]. Pedipalp [156-190 long]. Trochanter [22-28 long; 28-33 wide]. Femur [42-55 long; 32-42 wide]. Genu [32-41 long; width 25-32 wide]. Tibia [43-52 long; 19-23 wide]. Tarsus [16-21 long; 9-11 wide].

Dorsum (Fig. 18) - [439-525 long; 314-390 wide]. Dorsal plate [359-438 long; 283-342 wide]. Dorso-glandularia-4 [140-205 apart] anterior to [15-51] and well lateral to [33-70] muscle scars. Anterio-medial platelet [100-125 long; 64-76 wide]. Anterio-lateral platelet [142-175 long; 57-74 wide]. Lateral platelets as follows: lateral-1 [33-49 long; 20-34 wide]; lateral-2 [86-117 long; 20-28 wide]; lateral-3 [30-44 long; 13-23 wide]; lateral-4 [58-92 long; 16-28 wide]; lateral-5 [37-52 long; 18-24 wide]; lateral-6 [43-73 long; 16-26 wide]; lateral-7 [43-57 long; 14-25 wide].

Venter (Fig. 18) - [534-676 long; 341-427 wide]. Primary sclerotization [491-631 long]. Gnathosomal bay [42-68 dorsal length; 116-150 ventral length; 50-60 wide]. Coxal field [365-460 long; 265-321 wide] Coxa-I [195-251 long; 73-104 midlength]. Coxa-II + III [85-106 distance to top of coxa-II; 139-176 distance to top of coxa-III; 296-377 distance to bottom of coxa-III; 208-276 total length]. Coxa-IV [249-310 length to top; 113-150 total length]. Genital field [311-399 distance to top; 434-544 distance to bottom; 123-147 total length; 98-118 width; 195-251 distance from gnathosomal bay; 106-147 distance from coxa-I; 48-95 distance to excretory pore; 98-132 distance to caudad]. Genital skeleton [153-193 long; 80-94 wide]. Distance to excretory pore [491-631].

Legs - total leg and podomere lengths as follows: Leg-I [402-452 total; trochanter 49-59; basifemur 67-80; telofemur 53-63; genu 70-82; tibia 75-88; tarsus 78-88]. Leg-II [421-488 total; trochanter 51-61; basifemur 68-81; telofemur 51-63; genu 73-86; tibia 84-96; tarsus 91-105]. Leg-III [501-552 total; trochanter 52-61; basifemur 72-82; telofemur 59-68; genu 89-100; tibia 105-119; tarsus 118-130]. Leg-IV [664-746 total; trochanter 79-90; basifemur 95-106; telofemur 92-108; genu 124-144; tibia 130-155; tarsus 129-150].

Distribution.

Abundant throughout the majority of North America. Unreported in Washington and northern Oregon.

Remarks.

Commonly orange and uncommonly violet in the southwestern United States; commonly violet or blue and uncommonly red–violet in the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains; commonly violet or blue east of the Great Plains.