Nannaria terricola (Williams & Hefner, 1928)

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 terricola (Williams & Hefner, 1928) Figs 86 , 87 Vernacular name: "The Northern Ohio Twisted-Claw Millipede"

Fontaria terricola Williams & Hefner, 1928: 106, fig. 9c.

Nannaria terricola : Loomis and Hoffman 1948: 53. Chamberlin and Hoffman 1958: 42. Hoffman 1999: 368. Marek et al. 2014: 38. Means et al. 2021: S73.

Material examined.

Syntypes: United States - Ohio • 6 ♀♀; labeled as cotypes, Butler County, Oxford, Hueston's Woods ; [39.5800°N, - 84.7600°W]; NMNH #2269 .

Other material.

United States - Ohio • 1 ♂; Adams County, West Union, Edge of Appalachia Preserve , Abner Hollow Trail , not far up the trail, after the uphill walk; 38.7213°N, - 83.4335°W; elev. 231 m; 16 June 2016; hand collected; J. Means, D. Hennen leg.; VTEC MPE03714 • 5 ♀♀; same collection data as preceding; VTEC MPE01721 -24, 1738 • 9 ♂♂; Butler County, Oxford (39.5069°N, - 84.7452°W), 1928, Coll: R. Hefner leg.; VMNH NAN0329 • 3 ♂; Harrison County, Hopedale , in old field; 40.3252°N, - 80.9013°W; 29 Apr. 1979; R. Urbanek leg.; VMNH NAN0325 • 2 ♀♀; Hocking County, Crane Hollow Nature Preserve, in hollow behind Ellis House ; 39.4913°N, - 82.5797°W; elev. 290 m; 15 June 2016; hand collected; J. Means, D. Hennen leg.; VTEC MPE01690 , 1691 • 3 ♂♂; Logan County, Bellefontaine, Fred Corker Park ; 40.3640°N, - 83.7330°W; elev. 435 m; 3 Nov. 2016; hand collected; J. Brown leg.; VTEC MPE02234 , 2235, 2238 • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as preceding; VTEC MPE02236 , 2237 • 1 ♂; Stark County, Stark Wilderness Center ; 40.6720°N, - 81.6420°W; 1 May 1971; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0047. For detailed collection data see Suppl. material 7 .

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria terricola are distinct from other Nannaria , the sympatric N. ohionis , and the nearby N. shenandoa , based on the following combination of characters: Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite very slightly curving medially before apex, nearly straight, not strongly curving medially as in N. shenandoa , or obviously curving medially as in N. ohionis . Distal zone and tip short, simple, bent at 90° angle to acropodite and curving dorsally-not bending medially as in N. ohionis , or large, with flanges, curving posterolaterally as in N. shenandoa . Telopodite basal zone ca. 1/2 length of acropodite, not ca. 1/3 as in N. ohionis , or ca. 1/4 as in N. shenandoa . Telopodite basal zone with lateral bulge (Fig. 86A , red arrow), lacking in both N. ohionis and N. shenandoa . Prefemur with straight acicular prefemoral process, not curving laterally as in N. shenandoa . Prefemoral process arising from prefemur, not from top of prefemoral spine as in N. ohionis . Prefemoral spine reduced to small ridge, fused with prefemoral process (Fig. 86B , red triangle), not large, projecting, acicular as in N. ohionis . Color. Tergites with either white or pale orange paranotal spots (Fig. 87 ). Tan to dark brown background. Dorsum of collum smooth with either white or pale orange caudal margin, depending on color morph.

Measurements.

♀ syntype (NMNH, #2269): BL = 21.7 CW = 3.1, IW = 1.8, ISW = 0.9, B11W = 4.0, B11H = 3.1.

Variation.

No known variation.

Distribution.

Known from throughout central and southern Ohio (Ohio: Adams, Butler, Harrison, Hocking, Logan, Preble, and Stark counties; Suppl. material 7; Fig. 127 ). Distribution area: 33,812 km2; status: WRE.

Ecology.

Individuals of N. terricola have been collected from mesic hardwood forests composed of sycamore, maple, beech, cherry, hemlock, oak, birch, pawpaw, spicebush, and alder. They were often found under leaf litter and logs on hillsides, occasionally under 1-2 cm of dark soil.

Etymology.

Williams and Hefner (1928) gave no explanation for the name terricola in their description of the species, but it is assumed that it is derived from the Latin terricolus, terrestrial.

Type locality.

United States, Ohio, Butler County, Oxford, Hueston’s Woods; [39.5800°N, - 84.7600°W].

Notes.

In the original publication, Williams and Hefner (1928: 106, 107) did not designate type specimens, but mentioned that adults were collected, implying the existence of a type series. Upon investigation of the type material deposited at the NMNH we found that six female syntypes existed (NMNH #2269). Where the male specimen which Williams and Hefner (1928) illustrated and described currently resides is unknown.

Figures

Figure 86. Nannaria terricola ♂ (VTEC, MPE 02234) left gonopod A anterior view; red arrow indicates basal zone lateral bulge B medial view; red triangle indicates reduced, ridge-like prefemoral spine C posterior view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 87. Nannaria terricola coloration A ♀ (VTEC, MPE 01690) white paranota B ♀ (VTEC, MPE 01691) pale orange paranota. Scale bars: 4.0 mm.

Figure 127. Distribution map of Nannaria minor species group collection localities in the northern Appalachians.