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Title: Torrenticola trimaculata sp. nov. (Parasitengona: Torrenticolidae), a three-spotted water mite from eastern North America: taxonomic history, species delimitation, and survey of external morphology

Author
item FISHER, RAY - University Of Arkansas
item FISHER, DANIEL - University Of Arkansas
item NELSON, WHITNEY - University Of Arkansas
item O'NEILL, JOSEPH - University Of Arkansas
item SKVARIA, MICHAEL - University Of Arkansas
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
item BAUCHAN, G. - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item RADWELL, ANDREA - University Of Arkansas
item DOWLING, A.P. - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)

Submitted to: Acarologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2015
Publication Date: 3/30/2015
Citation: Fisher, R., Fisher, D.M., Nelson, W.A., O'Neill, J.C., Skvaria, M.J., Ochoa, R., Bauchan, G.R., Radwell, A.J., Dowling, A.G. 2015. Torrenticola trimaculata sp. nov. (Parasitengona: Torrenticolidae), a three-spotted water mite from eastern North America: taxonomic history, species delimitation, and survey of external morphology. Acarologia. 55(1):71-116.

Interpretive Summary: Water mites are economic important arthropods as bioindicators of the health of streams and biocontrol agents of eggs of other arthropods, including mosquito eggs. Three-spotted torrent water mites found in fast-flowing streams can be misidentified as multiple species based on color differences. Thus, a morphological and molecular study was undertaken to determine the true identity of these mites. Light microscopy and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy studies identified some variability morphologically but not significantly different, however minute structures never before seen were observed which were useful in comparing various specimens. The molecular studies showed no differences between the specimens. This study determined that there is just one species of three spotted torrent water mites with 2 different color-types which do not exist in the same location. These studies are important for scientists studying other water mites, stream ecology, behavior and environmental assessment.

Technical Abstract: Torrenticola trimaculata Fisher sp. nov. is described from eastern North America as the first in a series of descriptions on Torrenticolidae. As such, the study includes expanded discussions of methods, early taxonomic history, and numerous images surveying external morphology using a diversity of imaging methods. Species hypotheses were supported with analysis of the “barcoding” region of COI. Torrenticola trimaculata is found to be a wide-ranging, variable species with two distinct morphs that do not coexist locally. Also, we report the first record of the diatom, Cocconeis placentula Ehrenberg 1838, as epiphytic on water mites.