Apheloria montana ( Bollman, 1887 )

Marek, Paul E., Means, Jackson C., Hennen, Derek A. & Tingley, Carol, 2025, Revision of the millipede genus Apheloria Chamberlin, 1921 (Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae, Apheloriini), Zootaxa 5701 (3), pp. 315-350 : 322-325

Apheloria montana ( Bollman, 1887)

Vernacular name: “The mountain cherry millipede”

Figs 12 , 13

Fontaria montana Bollman, 1887: 622 .

Apheloria aspila Chamberlin, 1939: 10 . Synonymized by Hoffman, 1999: 306.

Apheloria unaka Chamberlin, 1939: 11 . Synonymized by Hoffman, 1999: 305.

Detailed taxonomic history in Appendix 1.

Material examined: Type specimens— ♂ holotype ( USNM) from Tennessee, Cocke County, Wolf Creek (Coll: C. Branner), no other collection information provided ( non vidi) . Non type material examined in Appendix 2. Materials examined are archived in the Virginia Tech Data Repository at: https://doi.org/10.7294/29829209

Diagnosis: Apheloria montana is distinct from other apheloriine species based on the following combination of characters: Color. Tergites with three yellow spots and yellow legs ( Fig. 12 ). ♂ Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite smoothly circular, O-shaped ( Fig. 13A )—without elbow as in A. virginiensis ( Fig. 7A , elb). Not smoothly oval-shaped (0-shaped), as in Rudiloria , nor D-shaped as in Sigmoria . Acropodite narrow, about one-half width of tibia on leg pair 9; of uniform width throughout. Acropodite tapered to L-shaped acuminate apex and abruptly twisted ( Fig. 13B )—not gradually tapered to curved J-shaped apex as in A. polychroma ( Fig. 8B ). Acropodite shaft without cingulum nor preapical teeth nor projections as in Appalachioria , Brachoria . Prefemur with a long, scythe-like prefemoral process ( Fig. 13B , pfp)—not short, scythe-like as in A. polychroma ( Fig. 8A , pfp). With distinct bend tubercle at prefemur-acropodite junction ( Fig. 13B , bt), not with acute angle at junction as in A. polychroma , A. uwharrie ( Figs 8B , 9B ).

Note about coloration: The three-spotted yellow morph unequivocally diagnoses A. montana from all other species of Apheloria northeast of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina ( Fig. 12 ).

Variation. The three-spotted yellow morph is the single color morph of A. montana . Individuals from Little Switzerland, Mitchell Co., North Carolina, possess smaller orange spots and orange legs.

There is typical sexual size dimorphism between males and females, where females are larger, and negligible variation of measurements within individuals of the same sex. Somatic measurements: ♂ (n = 7) BL = 41.85–52.89 (46.56/3.71). CW = 6.57–7.75 (6.91/0.45). IW = 4.24–4.89 (4.50/0.27). ISW = 1.15–1.31 (1.25/0.06). B10W = 8.74–10.51 (9.49/0.72). ♀ (n = 7) BL = 46.69–54.87 (49.51/2.98). CW = 6.44–8.21 (7.11/0.71). IW = 4.08–5.26 (4.75/0.41). ISW = 1.10–1.41 (1.30/0.11). B10W = 8.42–11.20 (9.78/0.99).

Ecology. Apheloria montana individuals were typically encountered in mesic habitats such as broadleaf deciduous forests. They were also found in drier habitats such as mixed forests, rhododendron groves, and oak and beech forests. Syntopic tree species recorded with A. montana included pine, maple, oak, tulip poplar, witch hazel, alder, hemlock, sweetgum, buckeye, and maple. Individuals were typically found beneath decomposing leaves on the forest floor.

Due to mimicry in color and overlap in distribution, A. montana may be confused in the field with A. polychroma ; Appalachioria eutypa ( Chamberlin, 1939) ; Brachoria hendrixsoni Marek, 2010 ; C. georgiana ; and P. flavipes . Apheloria montana can be distinguished from other species of Apheloria by its diagnosis, and from Appalachioria , Brachoria , Cherokia and Pleuroloma species by gonopod morphology, specifically by the absence of a cingulum, or a mid-length transverse groove on the acropodite, and the presence of a circular acropodite ( Fig. 13A ).

Distribution. Known from western North Carolina in Buncombe, Madison, McDowell, and Mitchell cos., and eastern Tennessee in Greene, Unicoi, and Washington cos. ( Fig. 11 ). Apheloria montana has the second smallest distributional area of the genus; A. whiteheadi has the smallest distribution.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Apheloria virginiensis (Drury, 1770), male gonopods (specimen # SPC000312). A: Anterior view; B: Medial view. pfp: prefemoral process. bt: bend tubercle. elb: elbow.

FIGURE 8. Apheloria polychroma Marek, Means & Hennen, 2018, male gonopods (specimen # MMC0311). A: Anterior view; B: Medial view. pfp: prefemoral process.

FIGURE 9. Apheloria uwharrie Marek, Means, Hennen & Tingley, sp. nov., male gonopods (specimen # MPE03855). A: Anterior view; B: Medial view. pfp: prefemoral process.

FIGURE 11. Distribution of species of the genus Apheloria Chamberlin, 1921. Colored dots indicate specimens used in the phylogenetic analysis. Outlines bound colored dots plus historical occurrence records from the periphery of the genus’ geographical range from Shelley & McAllister (2007), R.L Hoffman’s notes, and vetted research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Black dots denote unexamined material referable to Apheloria sp. and are undetermined.

FIGURE 12. Apheloria montana (Bollman, 1887) has a single color morph with three yellow spots and yellow legs.

FIGURE 13. Apheloria montana (Bollman, 1887), male gonopods (specimen # SPC000134). A: Anterior view; B: Medial view. pfp: prefemoral process. bt: bend tubercle.