Megaphyllum bosniense (Verhoeff, 1897)

Lazányi, Eszter & Vagalinski, Boyan, 2013, Redefinition of the millipede subgenus Megaphyllum sensu stricto Verhoeff, 1894 and neotype designation for Megaphyllum austriacum (Latzel, 1884) (Myriapoda: Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae), Zootaxa 3741 (1), pp. 55-100 : 76-78

Megaphyllum bosniense (Verhoeff, 1897)

Figs 12a–g

Julus austriacus: Latzel 1884: 296 –300, partim.

Brachyiulus bosniensis Verhoeff, 1897 : Verhoeff 1897b: 110–111, Figs VI–VII. Brachyiulus bosniensis: Verhoeff 1899b: 763 ; 1937: 109, 117; 1941: 81, 83. Brachyiulus (Chromatoiulus) bosniensis: Verhoeff 1899a: 192 .

Chromatoiulus bosniensis: Attems 1927: 237 , Figs 321–322; 1929: 331. Chromatoiulus bosniensis var. flavopictus Attems, 1929: 331 , 355.

Chromatoiulus bosniensis cotinophilus Loksa, 1962: 163 , Figs 42–43. Chromatoiulus bosniensis cotinophilus: Loksa 1968a: 62 , Fig. 30; Papp 1968: 267. Chromatoiulus (Chromatoiulus) bosniensis: Attems 1940: 306 .

Megaphyllum bosniense cotinophilum: Korsós 1994: 38 , Fig. 40.

Megaphyllum bosniense: Enghoff & Kime 2009 ; Lazányi et al. 2012: 8–9, 41.

Material examined. 1♂, Kärnten [Satnitz], Krain [Adelsberg], Mahren [Adamsthal], Schlesien [Freudenthal], Julus austriacus Syntypen, leg., don. Latzel, 1884 I., “107” (NHMW); Inv. Nr. 8132, 1♂, Ungarn, Siebenbürgen, Kroatien, [ Hungary, Romania and Croatia], 1919, don. Latzel, Ch. austriacus sensu Latzel det. Attems (NHMW); Austria: A20033645, 1♂, gonopods and 7th pleuroterga, slide preparation regarded as syntype, Brachyiulus bosniensis Verh. var. carynthiacus, Assling (ZSM); Nr. 1245 Coll. Verhoeff, 1♂, gonopods, slide preparation, Plasa (MNB); Bulgaria: 2♂, Belasitsa Mt., under Belasitsa hut, Castanea sativa forest, pitfall traps, 3–5.2010; leg. B. Gueorguiev & H. Delchev, det. BV (BV); Hungary: 1♂, Zala County, Zala Hillside, Szentmargitfalva, Bikucsaerdő, N48°30’ E16°39’, 183m, 18.09.2007, leg. L. Dányi, J. Kontschán & Zs. Ujvári (HNHM); 1♂, 1♀, 1juv., Zala County, Bázakerettye, Kiscsehi, Budafapuszta Arboretum, spruce forest, 1998. aug.25., leg. Korsós, Megaphyllum projectum det. Korsós Z, 1998 (HNHM); 1♂, Várvölgy, Keszthely Mt., 1972. IV.22.–VI.26., leg. Dr. Tóth L. (HNHM); Romania: ZMB 1242, 1♂, gonopods, slide preparation, Herkulesbad [Băile Herculane] (MNB); ZMB 1246, 1♂, gonopods, slide preparation, Herkulesbad [Băile Herculane] (MNB).

Distribution. Albania (Mauriès et al. 1997); Austria: Lesachtal, Saualpe, Packalpe, Koralpe; Eberstein; Villach-Klagenfurt Basin: South Klagenfurt, St. Veit; Gailtaler Alpen, Karnische Alpen (Carniolan Alps): Mauthen; Karawanken: Rosenbach (Strasser 1959); Gamlitz (Voigtländer et al. 1997); Bosnia and Hercegovina (Verhoeff 1897b; 1899b; Attems 1929); Bulgaria (Vagalinski & Stoev 2007); Croatia (Attems 1929; Strasser 1965); Greece (Lazányi et al. 2012); Italy: North Italy, Tre Venezie (Foddai et al. 1995); Hungary: Keszthelyi-hg, Zalalövő, Bakony (Korsós 1994); Kosovo (Makarov et al. 2004); Montenegro (Makarov et al. 2004); Republic of Macedonia (Makarov et al. 2004); Romania (Tăbăcaru 1966); Serbia: Obedska Bara, Obrež, Raška (Makarov et al. 2004); Slovenia: (Strasser 1966a).

Diagnosis. Differs from other consubgeners by the wide, rounded posterior opisthomere process (pp) considerably exceeding the solenomere ( Figs 12a–b, 12d ), and by the bottle-like (i.e. basally wide, then narrowing) posterior solenomere process (psp) being only slightly shorter than the anterior one (asp) ( Figs 12b, 12d ).

Body colour variable. Body length and height: males: 31.9–50.1mm, 2.2–3.4mm; females: 41–48.3mm, 3.5– 4mm.

Remarks. In the present paper M. bosniense is regarded as part of the M. transsylvanicum species group, but its transient status between the M. austriacum and M. transsylvanicum species- groups must be mentioned. The anterior solenomere process (asp) is not as elongated and rod-like as in M. transsylvanicum or M. rosenauense , but in relation to the posterior solenomere process (psp) it is better developed than in any members of the M. austriacum group. Also the significantly large posterior hump (ph) supports its present position. However, vulva structures are different from M. transsylvanicum . Examination of M. rosenauense and M. kievense (Lohmander, 1928) vulvae are needed to make further conclusions on the systematic position of M. bosniense .

M. bosniense is a widespread and frequently collected species south of the Alps and the Carpathians. Originally Verhoeff (1897b) considered this species as a colour variant of M. austriacum , with a reddish-brown dorsal longitudinal band. According to our material, the species proved to have variable body colour: both sexes had a dark grey basal colour, dorsally with a yellow or reddish longitudinal band which was frequently divided by a dark grey median band. Both males and females were sometimes brighter laterally, below ozopore level. All the above mentioned colour variants could occur in the same vial.

Loksa (1962) described a subspecies from Hungary: M. b. cotinophilum . It is named after the collecting habitat: Cotino-Quercetum (i.e. smoke bush and oak association), in the Keszthelyi Mountains, later found in Zalalövő, too. Subsequent authors dealing with the Hungarian fauna referred to this subspecies (Papp 1968, Korsós 1994). Unfortunately no type material could be found so we can rely only on the original description and on topotypic individuals. Loksa (1962) outlined the following characters for the subspecies (in comparison with the nominotypical subspecies): promere is apically tapering, cut-off obliquely; the opisthomere is more slender, the opisthomere’s posterior process more rounded, the anterior process pointed, its margin toothed; the solenomere wide, apically toothed. The individuals investigated from the Keszthelyi Mountains and from Zala County did not differ from syntypes of the nominotypical subspecies or from other individuals collected from different parts of the distribution range. The pointedness of the promere and the width of the opisthomere differ according to the angle of view through the microscope and vary between individuals. The individual variation did not show a distinct distributional pattern, thus M. b. cotinophilum is not a valid subspecies.

The male from Szentmargitfalva ( Hungary) had setiform filaments on the opisthomere’s flagellum-conducting lamella.

Figures

FIGURES 12 a – g. Megaphyllum bosniense. Syntype male from Bosnia, ZMB 2625: (12 a) gonopods, posterior view; (12 b) left gonopods, mesal view; (12 c) right promere, meso-posterior view; (12 d) left opisthomere, meso-posterior view. Male from Treskavac Mts, Montenegro: penis, (12 e) posterior and (12 f) right lateral views. Female from Maljen Mts, Serbia: (12 g) left vulva, meso-posterior view (setae omitted). Abbreviations: asp: anterior process of the solenomere, ca: central ampulla, ct: connecting tube; pa: posterior ampulla, ph: posterior hump, pp: posterior process, psp: posterior process of the solenomere, P: promere. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.