Maraplia Shear & Mark, 2022

Shear, William A. & Marek, Paul E., 2022, The millipede family Striariidae Bollman, 1893. VI. Six new genera and thirteen new species from western North America (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Striarioidea), Zootaxa 5205 (6), pp. 501-531 : 506-507

Genus Maraplia Shear & Mark , new genus

Type species: Maraplia napa Shear & Marek , new species

Etymology: The genus name is an arbitrary combination of letters, an anagram of the related genus name Amplaria forming a Latin neologism to be treated as feminine in gender.

Diagnosis: A genus of the subfamily Striariinae by virtue of having gonopods with a flagellocoxite and ninth legs with free telopodites. The gonopod flagellocoxite, while sheathed in a process from the posterior angiocoxite, is unusually short and stout, unlike other members of this subfamily. The anterior angiocoxites are erect (extending posteriorly) in other genera of striariines, but in species of Maraplia n. gen., they are reflexed anteriorly and dorsally. The gonopod coxae have prominent distal processes. The ninth legs are unique in that the teolopodites have a long, mesodistal apophysis that is tipped with ensiform setae.

Description: Small striariines, 4.5 mm or less in length. Twenty-eight ( Fig. 7 ) or 30 postcephalic rings, including telson. Two ommatidia on each side of head. Head ( Figs 8 , 12 ) densely setose, with small tubercles. Labral hook lacking ( Fig. 12 , lab). Mandibular stipes ( Fig. 12 , m) with serrate margin, blunt triangular process. Collum with crests limited to posterior region, anterior region separated from posterior with distinct sulcus so that anterior region appears somewhat like a hat brim, studded with small tubercles. Metazonital crests ( Figs 7 , 15 ) subequal, C6 sometimes a little larger; metazonital setae long, acute. Telson ( Fig. 15 , tel) with lobes very shallowly demarcated, sulci shallow. Legpair 1 larger than legpairs 2 or 3, femora ( Fig. 12 , f 1 ) and tibiae with long, needle-like setae, tarsus with comb. Legpair 2 with short telopodites, vas deferens openings in coxae facing mesally, coxae notched so that when appressed, a single pore is formed ( Fig. 11 , vcp). Legpair 3 with relatively short or long flasks ( Fig. 13 , cf), heavily set with raised cuticular scales. Legpairs 4–7 crassate, legpair 7 with small coxal lobes.

Gonopods ( Figs 10, 14 , 52, 53, 55 , 56, 58, 59 ) small; gonopod sternum massive, quadrate ( Fig. 14 , s).Coxa setose, with obvious distolateral process of varying form. Anterior angiocoxites short or long, deflexed anteriodorsally. Posterior angiocoxites with posterior process forming partial sheath for flagellocoxites. Flagellocoxites short, robust, curved near tip. Colpocoxites variable, but evidently moved anteriomesally, fimbriate or botrydial anteriorly.

Ninth legs ( Figs 10, 14 , 54 , 57, 60 ) with coxosternite and free telopodites. Coxosternite with one or two processes on each side, probably one from sternal portion, one from coxal part. Telopodite small ( Figs 10, 14 , 60 , t 9 ), with pebbled sculpture and setae; long apophysis extends mesally, with dense group of ensiform setae. Telopodite locks into deep notch in ventrolateral margin of pleurotergite 7 ( Fig. 14 , t 9 , pt7).

Tenth leg with coxal pores, coxae enlarged.

Included species: In addition to the type, Maraplia schusteri Shear & Marek , n. sp., and M. chico Shear & Marek , n. sp.

Distribution: Northern California, including the counties of Napa, Lake, and Butte.

Note: The gonopods of these species are difficult to interpret in terms of the usual scheme adopted for other striariid genera and the various divisions may not be homologous to those with the same name in those previously described. In fact it may be that the subfamily distinctions are breaking down somewhat, but with numbers of new taxa yet to be described, we are holding onto the two subfamilies until a more complete picture of striariid diversity is achieved.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Nototrisaria ornata, n. gen., n. sp., live female in habitat. About 5.0 mm long. Photo by Bill Leonard.

FIGURES 7–9. Maraplia napa, n. gen., n. sp. 7. Female, lateral view. 8. Head and first legpair of male, ventral view. 9. Coxal flask of leg 3 of male, lateral view. Abbreviation: cf, coxal flask of leg 3.

FIGURES 10–15. Striariid millipedes. Figs 10, 11. Maraplia schusteri, n. gen., n. sp. 10. Gonopods, legpair 9 and paratergite 7, oblique lateral view. 11. Coxae of legpair 2, ventral view. Figs 12–15. Maraplia chico, n. gen., n. sp. 12. Head and first two legpairs, ventral view. 13. Coxal flasks of legpair 3, ventral view. 14. Gonopods, ventral view. 15. Posterior end of male, dorsal view. Abbreviations: aac, anterior angiocoxite; c4, coxa of leg 4; c5, coxa of leg 5; cf, coxal flask of leg 3; cx2, coxa of leg 2; f1, femur of leg 1; lab, labrum; m, mandible; numerals, ring numbers; pac, posterior angiocoxite; pf, prefemur of leg 3; pt7, paratergite of ring 7; s, gonopod sternum; t9, telopodite of ninth leg; tp9, telopodite process; vcp, common opening of vas deferens.

FIGURES 49–55. Striariid millipedes. Figs 49–51. Nototrisaria ornata, n. gen., n. sp., right gonopod, lateral view. 50. Same, mesal view. 51. Legpair 9 of male, anterior view. Figs 52–54. Maraplia napa, n. gen., n. sp. 52. Right gonopod, mesal view. 53. Right gonopod, lateral view. 54. Right leg 9 of male, posterior view. 55. Right gonopod of Maraplia schusteri, n. gen., n. sp., lateral view. Abbreviations: aac, anterior angiocoxite; cc, colpocoxite; cp, coxal process; cx, gonopod coxa; fc, flagellocoxite; pac, posterior angiocoxite; s9, sternum of ninth legs; t9, telopodite of ninth leg.

FIGURES 56–62. Striariid millipedes. Figs 56, 57. Maraplia schusteri, n. gen., n. sp. 56. Right gonopod, mesal view. 57. Right leg 9 of male, anterior view. Figs 58–60. Maraplia chico, n. gen., n. sp. 58. Right gonopod, lateral view. 59. Right gonopod, mesal view. 60. Right leg 9 of male, posterior view. Figs 61, 62. Lamparia curryensis, n. gen., n. sp. 61. Right gonopod, lateral view. 62. Right gonopod, mesal view. Abbreviations: aac, anterior angiocoxite; cc, colpocoxite; cp, coxal process; cx, gonopod coxa; cxs, coxosternite of legs 9; fc, flagellocoxite; pac, posterior angiocoxite; s9, sternum of ninth legs; t9, telopodite of ninth leg.