Aporrectodea trapezoides ( Duges , 1828)

Nxele, Thembeka C., Mwabvu, Tarombera & Yekwayo, Inam, 2021, Earthworm species occurrence in agroecosystems in the Midlands, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, African Invertebrates 62 (2), pp. 411-425 : 411

Aporrectodea trapezoides ( Duges, 1828)

Type locality.

Montpellier, France

RSA distribution

(Old material). KZN: Howick, Mooi River and Underberg. EC: Cradock, Storm River area, Winterberg Farm, Tsitsikamma, Fish River, Port Elizabeth, Humansdorp, Groot Brak River Staasie, Uitenhage Kerkstraat, Molteno and Burgersdorp. WC: Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Piketberg, Knysna, Wellington, Ceres, Tulbagh, Moorreesburg, Kirstenbosch, Swellendam, Jonkershoek, Worcester, Caledon and Montagu. NC: Upington, Jan Kempdorp, Nieuwoudtville, Prieska, Studer’s Pass, Liliefontein. LP: Pietersburg. MP: Ermelo, Lydenburg, Middelburg and Volksrust. NW: Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and Tranvala Farm. GP: Heidelberg, Roodepoort, Pretoria and Irene. FS: Heunings Rug and Springfield, Rouxville. New material: KZN: Nottingham Road.

Remarks.

Aporrectodea trapezoides has common occurrence compared to A. caliginosa . In the current study, this species was collected together with A. caliginosa on cultivated land with mixed species pasture. The mixed species field is under minimal tilling with little disturbance of the top soil from time to time. Previously, Aporrectodea trapezoides was collected from natural habitats that include forests, natural bush, cultivated fields and along rivers ( Plisko 2010).