A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae: Apheloriini)
Author
Marek, Paul E.
text
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
2010
2010-07-26
159
4
817
889
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00633.x
journal article
10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00633.x
0024-4082
5755069
BRACHORIA CEDRA
KEETON, 1959
‘THE CEDAR GLADE MIMIC MILLIPEDE’ (
FIG. 8A–D,
FIG. 39K–M; SUPPORTING INFORMATION VIDEO S1)
Brachoria cedra
Keeton, 1959: 17
.
Keeton, 1965: 85
;
Hoffman, 1971: 233
.
Diagnosis:
Adult males of
B. cedra
are distinct from other
Brachoria
species
based on the combination of: Size. Body length on average smaller than other species (
♂
37.49,
♀
38.68). Colour. Three-spotted, yellow metatergal spots, paranotal spots, anterior and posterior collum spots, legs (Fig. 39K). Exoskeleton. Caudolateral corners, paranota 1–4 slightly rounded, lateral margins angled cephalically. Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite narrow, half width of tibia on leg pair 9, of uniform width throughout. Prefemur with thin, sharp prefemoral process. Acropodite curved medially in D-shaped form (
Fig. 8D
). Arc immediately distal beyond cingulum slightly elbowed. Acropodal apex projecting laterally. Acropodite distal to postcingular arc bent 90°, with curved acuminate apex (
Fig. 8D
, arrow).
Variation:
Brachoria cedra
is known from three areas in Wise, Norton City, and Lee Counties (
6♂
and
4♀
represent specimens throughout this range). There is some variation in coloration amongst these specimens with an orange variant (Fig. 39M) of the common three-spotted morph and a two-spotted yellow morph (Fig. 39L), both of which are less common than the three-spotted yellow morph. Measurements:
♂
(
N
= 6) BL = 33.56–40.78 (37.49/2.69). CW = 6.85–7.70 (7.34/0.33). IW = 4.60–5.09 (4.85/0.17). ISW = 1.28– 1.60 (1.45/0.12). B10W = 9.10–10.49 (9.92/0.58). B10H = 5.55–6.25 (5.93/0.28).
♀
(
N
= 4) BL = 37.76– 39.92 (38.68/0.93). CW = 7.10–7.72 (7.28/0.29). IW = 5.29–5.60 (5.42/0.13). ISW = 1.67–1.81 (1.74/ 0.06). B10W = 9.71–11.00 (10.21/0.59). B10H = 6.66– 7.57 (7.06/0.38).
Description:
Male described by
Keeton (1959)
.
Ecology:
Brachoria cedra
was previously only known from the cedar glades around Jonesville in Lee County; however, I found a disjunct population around High Knob in the tulip and maple deciduous forests there, and later in other localities in Lee County. All specimens were collected during the day in either cedar forests (
Juniperus virginiana
L.) or mixed mesophytic deciduous forests. At the cedar glade localities, individuals were found beneath layers of decomposing cedar leaves.
Brachoria cedra
normally occurred beneath cedar duff on the plate-like dolomitic limestone. One other xystodesmid encountered sympatrically at this locality is
A. v. corrugata
, which has a strong mimetic resemblance to
B. cedra
. At the other localities,
B. cedra
was found beneath decomposing leaves of broadleaf species like maple, tulip, and oak. Note: individuals of
B. cedra
may easily be confused in the field with
A. v. corrugata
,
B. dentata
,
B. insolita
,
B. mendota
,
B. sheari
, and
B. hoffmani
because of similarity in colour patterns (around High Knob all of these species, except
B. sheari
and
B. mendota
, can be found as mimics), but can be distinguished from the other
Brachoria
by the diagnostic characters and from
A. v. corrugata
by the presence of the following characters (viewed with a 20¥ loupe): Acropodite with midlength transverse groove, cingulum. Arc immediately distal beyond cingulum slightly elbowed. Acropodite not circular like in
A. v. corrugata
.
Distribution:
Known from four areas in south-western
Virginia
from Edd’s Mill in south-western Lee County, north-east through the cedar glades and Lovelady Gap, to the highlands around High Knob in Norton City and Wise Counties.
Brachoria cedra
co-occurs with
B. dentata
,
B. insolita
,
B. mendota
,
B. sheari
, and
B. hoffmani
forming a component of a Müllerian mimicry ring with them.
Material examined:
Type specimens.
♂
holotype
(
USNM
)
from
Lee County
,
Virginia
, cedar glades near
Jonesville
,
v.1955
(coll:
L. Carr
) (
vidi
).
Nontype
specimens.
Virginia
:
1♂
(SPC000276*:
DQ
490680
)
,
Lee County
,
The Cedars
, CR656, 1.6 rd km south
US
58, telephone line clearcut (
36.66032°N
, -
83.18390°W
,
408 m
),
28.v.2004
, 10:45 (coll:
P. Marek
)
;
1♀
(
MMC0277
)
,
Lee County
,
The Cedars
, CR-738 (
36.65624°N
, -
83.20165°W
,
436 m
),
28.ix.2006
, 16:00 (colls:
P. and B. Marek
)
;
1♂
(
MMC0280
)
,
1♀
(
MMC0277
)
,
Lee County
,
Lovelady Gap, CR
619 (
36.763661°N
, -
82.88194°W
,
815 m
),
27.ix.2006
, 12:15 (coll:
P. and B. Marek
)
;
1♂
(
PMLN00027
)
,
Lee County
, west of
Long Hollow School
(
36.725600°N
, -
83.05930°W
),
30.v.1990
(coll:
J. Fulks
)
;
1♂
(
MMC0349
)
,
1♀
(
MMC0338
)
,
Lee County
,
Edd’s Mill
(
36.63098°N
, -
83.35825°W
,
395 m
),
29.ix.2006
, 15:00 (coll:
P. Marek
)
;
1♂
(SPC000273),
Wise County
,
Stone Mountain
, near
Eagle Knob
, FR238, east of curve in road (
36.895321°N
, -
82.60513°W
,
777 m
),
27.v.2004
, 19:30 (coll:
P. Marek
)
;
1♂
(
MMC0029
)
,
1♀
(
MMC0024
)
Wise County
,
Osborn Rock, FR
238 (
36.894991°N
, -
82.59027°W
,
1145 m
),
17.viii.2006
, 9:00 (colls:
P. Marek
and C.
Spruill
)
.