Nannaria stellapolis, Means & Hennen & Marek, 2021

Means, Jackson C., Hennen, Derek A. & Marek, Paul E., 2021, A revision of the minor species group in the millipede genus Nannaria Chamberlin, 1918 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae), ZooKeys 1030, pp. 1-180 : 1

Nannaria stellapolis sp. nov. Figs 40 , 41 Vernacular name: "The Star City Twisted-Claw Millipede"

Material examined.

Holotype: United States - Virginia • ♂; Roanoke County, Roanoke Mountain picnic area off Blue Ridge Parkway ; 37.2309°N, - 79.9502°W; elev. 449 m; 25 Oct.2014; J. Means leg.; VTEC MPE00252 .

Paratype: United States - Virginia • 1 ♂; same collection data as holotype; VMNH MPE00258 . For detailed collection data see Suppl. material 7 .

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria stellapolis sp. nov. are distinct from other Nannaria and the nearby N. wilsoni , based on the following combination of characters: Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite long and curving medially before apex, not ventromedially as in N. hokie . Acropodite tip with small, triangular lateral flange (Fig. 40A , red arrow), not encircling tip forming a hood-like structure as in N. hokie . Acropodite simple, lacking triangular medial flange of N. hokie . Acropodite without heavily sclerotized laminate corkscrew as in N. wilsoni . Telopodite basal zone height ca. 1/2 length of acropodite, not <1/3 length as in N. hokie or ca. 1/6 length as in N. wilsoni . Telopodite with small basal zone lateral bulge. Prefemoral process small, thin, curving medially and arising from top of large, projected, shelf-like prefemoral spine-not arising from sharp, acuminate prefemoral spine as in N. hokie , and not subequal to length of acropodite as in N. wilsoni . Color. Tergites with orange/red paranotal spots (Fig. 41 ). Dark brown background. Dorsum of collum smooth with orange anterior margin.

Measurements.

♂ holotype (VTEC, MPE00252): BL = 24.2, CW = 3.3, IW = 1.7, ISW = 0.7, B11W = 3.7, B11H = 2.3.

Variation.

No known variation.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Virginia: Roanoke County, Suppl. material 7; Fig. 126 ). Distribution area: N/A; status: MRE.

Ecology.

Individuals of N. stellapolis sp. nov. were found in mesic broadleaved forests composed of oak, walnut, and maple, under 1-2 cm of hard packed soil on the bank of a dry creek bed.

Etymology.

This species is named for Star City, the common nickname of Roanoke city. The specific name is a noun in apposition derived from the Latin stella -, star, and Greek polis, city.

Type locality.

United States, Virginia, Roanoke County, Roanoke Mountain picnic area off Blue Ridge Parkway, 37.2309°N, - 79.9502°W.

Figures

Figure 40. Nannaria stellapolis sp. nov. holotype ♂ (VTEC, MPE 00252) left gonopod A anterior view; red arrow indicates lateral flange B medial view C posterior view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 41. Nannaria stellapolis sp. nov. holotype ♂ (VTEC, MPE 00252) coloration. Scale bar: 4.0 mm.

Figure 126. Distribution map of Nannaria minor species group collection localities in the central Appalachians.