Brachoria conta, KEETON, 1965

Marek, Paul E., 2010, A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae: Apheloriini), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 159 (4), pp. 817-889 : 837-838

BRACHORIA CONTA KEETON, 1965

‘THE GREGORY HOLLOW MIMIC MILLIPEDE’

( FIG. 9A–D , 39N)

Brachoria conta Keeton, 1965: 225 .

Diagnosis: Adult males of B. conta are distinct from other Brachoria species based on the combination of: Colour. Three-spotted (Fig. 39N), yellow (2.5Y 8.5/8) paranotal spots, anterior collum spot, legs; metatergal spots pink (5Y 7/8). Exoskeleton. Caudolateral corners, paranota 1–8 rounded, lateral margins angled cephalically. Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite narrow, threequarters width of tibia on leg pair 9, narrowed distally beyond cingulum by two-thirds. Prefemur with flat bidentate prefemoral process ( Fig. 9A, C , arrows). Acropodite bent medially at 25°, one-quarter its length from prefemur. Acropodite curved cephalically 45° in half C-shape form ( Fig. 9A ). Arc immediately distal beyond cingulum orientated anterolaterally. Acropodal apex twisted 90°, projecting anteriorly ( Fig. 9C ).

Variation: Brachoria conta is known only from the type locality and seven specimens (1♂, the type, collected in 1961, and 2♂ and 4♀ collected in 2005). There is some variation in coloration amongst these specimens with two less frequent variants of the common three-spotted morph: small orange metatergal spots (SPC000565) and two-spotted, with yellow paranotal spots only (SPC000644). Measurements: ♂ (N = 3) BL = 42.06– 44.27 (42.92/1.18). CW = 7.20–7.85 (7.80/0.08). IW = 5.19–5.39 (5.29/0.10). ISW = 1.59–1.62 (1.60/0.02). B10W = 10.39–10.64 (10.53/0.13). B10H = 6.40–6.66 (6.54/0.13). ♀ (N = 4) BL = 42.86–47.71 (44.65/2.21). CW = 7.61–8.22 (7.89/0.31). IW = 5.50–5.90 (5.69/ 0.18). ISW = 1.80–1.88 (1.83/0.04). B10W = 11.10– 11.88 (11.38/0.35). B10H = 7.58–8.30 (7.87/0.32).

Description: Male described by Keeton (1965).

Ecology: Brachoria conta specimens were collected during the day (15:00) in a mixed pine, maple, and birch forest near the road (US-60). Individuals were found under a carpet of Lycopodium and beneath layers of decaying leaf material, predominately maple and birch. I observed many more females than males at the site, at a ratio of about 7:1. Apheloria v. corrugata was encountered sympatrically, but differed in coloration. Note: individuals of B. conta may be confused in the field with Rudiloria guyandotta (whose range overlaps with B. conta , but was not found co-occurring) because of similarity in colour patterns, but can be distinguished by the presence of the following characters (viewed with a 20¥ loupe): acropodite with midlength transverse groove, cingulum.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality. The closest known Brachoria species , B. plecta occurs 83 air km south-west in Powell County, Kentucky.

Material examined: Type specimens. ♂ holotype ( USNM) from Carter County, Kentucky, 5 miles (8 km) west of Grayson , 22.iv.1961 (colls: R. W. and V. G. Barker), ‘in life paranotal spots creamy yellow, median spots flesh or salmon.’ (vidi). Nontype specimens. Kentucky: 2♂ (SPC000640*: DQ490680 , SPC000641), 4♀ (SPC000565, 642–44), Carter County , Gregoryville , US-60, about 0.3 rd km west of junction with Gregory Hollow , and about 12 rd km west of Grayson (38.33792°N, - 83.05760°W, 231 m), 29.vi.2005, 15:00 (coll: P. Marek) .

BRACHORIA CUMBERLANDMOUNTAINENSIS SP. NOV.

Figures

Figure 9. Brachoria conta Keeton, 1965. A–D, holotype specimen gonopods: A, left male gonopod, anterior view; B, left male acropodal apex, magnified; C, left male gonopod, medial; D, same, posterior (acropodite length = 2.30 mm).