Maraplia napa Shear & Marek, 2022

Shear, William A. & Marek, Paul E., 2022, The millipede family Striariidae Bollman, 1893. VI. Six new genera and thirteen new species from western North America (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Striarioidea), Zootaxa 5205 (6), pp. 501-531 : 507-509

Maraplia napa Shear & Marek , n. sp.

Figs 7–9 , 52–54

Types: Male holotype and 3 female paratypes from 1 mi SW of Oakville, Berlese of laurel litter (sample 79–17), Napa Co., California, 38.4245°N, - 122.4123°W, 235’ asl, collected 29 April 1979 by D. S. Chandler; male paratype from the same locality, but Berlese of general forest litter (sample 79–18); two male and one female paratypes from 9 mi S of Middletown, Berlese of litter along a stream (sample 79–8), Lake Co. , California, 38.6426°N, - 122.5295°W, 1720’ asl, 29 April 1979, D. S. Chandler. The Lake County male and female paratypes are mounted on SEM stub WS35-6. All specimens deposited in FMNH.

Etymology: The species name is a noun in apposition referring to the type locality in Napa County.

Diagnosis: Distinct from the two other species of the genus in the form of the gonopods; most easily seen is the broad, platelike coxal process and the relatively long, hooked flagellocoxite, as well as the curious botrydial branch of the posterior angiocoxite.

Description: Male paratype. Length, about 4.5 mm, width 0.4 mm. Twenty-eight postcephalic rings including telson. Two black ommatidia on each side of head. Color white. Other characters as described for the genus. Third coxae flasks ( Fig. 9 , cf) short, reaching only to fourth coxae when reflexed posteriorly.

Gonopods ( Figs 52, 53 ) small, compact. In lateral view, coxa with about 10 setae, coxal process ( Fig. 53 , cp) broad, flattened, distally recurved. Anterior angiocoxite sharply deflexed, unbranched ( Figs 52, 53 , aac). Posterior angiocoxite in mesal view with two branches, one of which sheaths a thick, blunt, hooked flagellocoxite, anterior branch developed as curious botrydial structure of numerous rounded lobes on short stalks. Colpocoxite ( Figs 52, 53 , cc) shifted anteriomesally, posterior part swollen, finely tuberculate-fimbriate.

Ninth legs ( Fig. 54 ) with single, apically bifurcate process from coxosternum ( Fig. 54 , cp), telopodite fungiform, bearing mesal process ( Fig. 54 , t 9 ) set with as many as 10–12 ensiform setae (these setae may or may not spring from sockets).

Tenth leg coxae slightly enlarged, with glandular openings.

Female paratype similar to male in nonsexual characters but some females may have 30 rings. A 28-ring female is depicted in Fig. 7 .

Distribution: Presently known only from Napa and Lake Counties, California, but probably more widely distributed in the region, given the distance between these localities.

Note: The function of the botrydial part of the posterior angiocoxite defies speculation. At first it appeared as if this might be part of a spermatophore, but after ultrasonic cleaning, which would dislodge or disintegrate a spermatophore, the structure, found on all the males, remained unchanged.

Figures

FIGURES 7–9. Maraplia napa, n. gen., n. sp. 7. Female, lateral view. 8. Head and first legpair of male, ventral view. 9. Coxal flask of leg 3 of male, lateral view. Abbreviation: cf, coxal flask of leg 3.

FIGURES 49–55. Striariid millipedes. Figs 49–51. Nototrisaria ornata, n. gen., n. sp., right gonopod, lateral view. 50. Same, mesal view. 51. Legpair 9 of male, anterior view. Figs 52–54. Maraplia napa, n. gen., n. sp. 52. Right gonopod, mesal view. 53. Right gonopod, lateral view. 54. Right leg 9 of male, posterior view. 55. Right gonopod of Maraplia schusteri, n. gen., n. sp., lateral view. Abbreviations: aac, anterior angiocoxite; cc, colpocoxite; cp, coxal process; cx, gonopod coxa; fc, flagellocoxite; pac, posterior angiocoxite; s9, sternum of ninth legs; t9, telopodite of ninth leg.