Three new genera and eighteen new species of miniature polydesmid millipedes from the northwestern United States (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Polydesmidae) Author Shear, William A. Professor Emeritus, Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney VA 23943; present address 1950 Price Drive, Farmville VA 23901. Author Marek, Paul E. 0000-0002-7048-2514 Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061. pmarek @ vt. edu; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 7048 - 2514 pmarek@vt.edu text Zootaxa 2021 2021-05-24 4975 1 81 126 journal article 6194 10.11646/zootaxa.4975.1.3 529d48db-4299-4e2d-9aaf-6c4178c08b18 1175-5326 4804909 DB7C9028-3EDF-454F-88D0-336624AD1DC4 Benedictesmus Shear & Marek , new genus Type Species : Benedictesmus aureus Shear & Marek , n. sp. Species included : Bendictesmus aureus , n. sp. , B. ellenae , n. sp. , B. yaquina , n. sp. and B. timber , n. sp. Diagnosis. Males of some Benedictesmus species have only 18 postcephalic rings, while females have 19. The short, simple gonopods have a bifurcate terminal zone ( tz, Figs 101, 105 ); the pulvillus may be extended into a tube ( B. ellenae , n. sp. , Fig. 106 ). Etymology. The genus is named for the late Ellen M. Benedict (1931–2005), a pseudoscorpion specialist who provided much of the material for this study. Dr. Benedict taught at Portland State University, Malhuer Field Station and Pacific University. Distribution. Coastal eastern Oregon .