Nannaria bobmareki, 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 bobmareki sp. nov. Figs 75 , 76 , 77 Vernacular name: "Bob Marek’s Twisted-Claw Millipede"

Nannaria ‘Blanton’: Marek and Bond 2006: 721.

Material examined.

Holotype: United States - Kentucky • ♂; Leslie County, Cawood Recreation Site , about 5.4 rd km N jct KY-221 & US-421; 36.9364°N, - 83.3729°W; elev. 417; 26 July 2006; hand collected; P. Marek and B. Marek leg.; VTEC SPC001019.

Paratypes: United States - Kentucky • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; VMNH SPC001025 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; FMNH SPC001026 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; VTEC SPC001027 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; VTEC SPC001028 .

Other material.

United States - Kentucky • 6 ♂♂ and 1 ♀; Harlan County Pine Mtn., Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve , High Fork Br., nr campground ranger station; 36.8594°N, - 83.3823°W; elev. 411 m; 10 Aug. 2003; hand collected; P. Marek leg.; VTEC SPC000177-183 • 1 ♂; Harlan County, N slope Pine Mtn., James E Bickford Nature Preserve, Pine Mtn. Settlement School; 36.9473°N, - 83.1807°W; elev. 587 m; 9 May 2011; hand colleted; P. Marek, C. Hall, D. Beamer, M. Beamer leg.; VTEC SPC001083. For detailed collection data see Suppl. material 7 .

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria bobmareki sp. nov. are distinct from other Nannaria and the nearby N. aenigma , based on the following combination of characters: Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite acicular, bending abruptly medially at 90° at tip, not slightly curving medially before tip as in N. fracta sp. nov. or gently curving medially as in N. aenigma . Distal zone quadrate, not short, rounded, as in N. fracta sp. nov., or long and serpentine as in N. aenigma . Acropodite with small, shelf-like medial flange just before tip (Fig. 75C , red arrow). Prefemur with long, acicular prefemoral process with a pronounced, sharp prefemoral spine, partially fused to prefemoral process forming a ridge (Fig. 75C , red triangle), not free from prefemoral process as in N. fracta sp. nov. or lacking as in N. aenigma . Telopodite basal zone ca. 1/2 length of acropodite, not> 1/2 length of acropodite as in N. fracta sp. nov. or ca. 1/6 length of acropodite as in N. aenigma . Telopodite basal zone with slight medial swelling (Fig. 75A , red circle), not with pronounced medial swelling as in N. fracta sp. nov., or lacking as in N. aenigma . Color: Tergites with white paranotal spots (Fig. 76 ). Dark brown background. Dorsum of collum smooth with white margin.

Measurements.

♂ holotype (VTEC, SPC001019): BL = 26.6, CW = 3.7, IW = 2.1, ISW = 0.9, B11W = 4.3, B11H = 2.8; ♀ paratype (VTEC, SPC001028): BL = 30.4, CW = 4.1, IW = 2.4, ISW = 1.2, B11W = 5.1, B11H = 3.6.

Variation.

No known variation.

Distribution.

Known from a small triangular area in southeastern Kentucky (Kentucky: Harlan and Leslie counties; Suppl. material 7; Fig. 126 ). Distribution area: 74 km2; status: MRE.

Ecology.

Nannaria bobmareki sp. nov. is the only species of Nannaria which is known to engage in swarming behavior. PEM observed a swarm of an estimated 400 N. bobmareki sp. nov. individuals covering 4 m2 in the Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve in August of 2003 (Fig. 77 ). Nannaria are rarely found in high abundance, making swarming behavior especially notable. Additionally, N. bobmareki sp. nov. was encountered co-occurring with, but not participating in, a putative Müllerian mimicry ring composed of the xystodesmid species Apheloria polychroma Marek, Means & Hennen, 2018 and Brachoria flammipes Marek, 2010 ( Marek 2010).

Etymology.

This species is named after its co-collector, Bob Marek. The specific name is a genitive noun derived as a patronym.

Type locality.

United States, Kentucky, Leslie County, Cawood Recreation Site, about 5.4 rd km N jct KY-221 & US-421, 36.9364°N, - 83.3729°W.

Figures

Figure 75. Nannaria bobmareki sp. nov. ♂ holotype left gonopod (VTEC, SPC 001019) A anterior view; red circle indicates slight basal swelling B medial view C posterior view; red arrow indicates shelf-like medial flange; red triangle indicates prefemoral spine partially fused with prefemoral process. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 76. Nannaria bobmareki sp. nov. ♂ holotype (VTEC, SPC 001019) coloration. Scale bar: 4.0 mm.

Figure 77. Small subset of Nannaria bobmareki sp. nov. ♂ swarm observed in the Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve, Harlan Co., Kentucky.

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