taxonID	type	description	language	source
CE1A879AFF90FF87FCBEF9D9FE7CF81B.taxon	description	Figs 1 – 3.	en	Golovatch, S. I. (2024): Archispirostreptus syriacus (de Saussure, 1859), the largest and perhaps the most conspicuous millipede in the fauna of Israel. Russian Entomological Journal 33 (4): 513-515, DOI: 10.15298/rusentj.33.4.14
CE1A879AFF90FF87FCBEF9D9FE7CF81B.taxon	materials_examined	MATERIAL. 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (ZMUM), Israel, Jerusalem, Kidron Valley, paved path between Gethsemanes Garden and Old City, 31.7786 ºN, 35.2379 ºE, 4. VI. 2024, A. Babenko leg. MORPHOLOGICAL NOTES. Archispirostreptus syriacus is by far the largest millipede in the fauna of Israel, adults attaining 125 – 140 mm in length and 8 – 10 mm in width / diameter. Males tend to be slightly smaller in size and more slender than females. Colouration typically dark grey to blackish, pattern being only slightly cingulated due to only a little lighter prozona (Fig. 1). Adults with 59 – 68 body rings, both collum and telson included. According to Mwabvu et al. [2010], the gonopods of the Near East A. syriacus (Figs 2, 3) differ from those of the remaining accepted nine Afrotropical congeners primarily in showing a subtriangular sternite (st), coupled with a distinct apical metaplical projection (app) lying laterally at the base of the apical metaplical process (ap) and distal to a particularly strong and slender lateral metaplical process (lp). NOTES ON BIONOMY. This species appears remarkable not only because of its vast geographic distribution in the Near East (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, and Israel together with the West Bank), but also in its showing highly peculiar biological traits. Periodic ephemeral swarming and outbreaks are especially apparent in A. syriacus in Israel. Thus, already Théodore Barrois (1857 – 1920), a renowned French naturalist, during his trip to Palestine and Syria in March to June 1890 noted great numbers of A. syriacus in the dry oases north of the Dead Sea up to Lake Tiberias / Kinneret (= Sea of Galilee) in the north, but no A. syriacus occurring either in Syria or Lebanon [Porat, 1893]. As summarized and mapped by Shelley [2009], A. syriacus in Israel occurs around the Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem and vicinity, the northern extremity of the Negev Desert, and the West Bank. Two populations have been studied particularly thoroughly: one at Megiddo ruins and the other at the village of Brosh [Berkovitz, Warburg, 1983, 1985, 1988]. In the more mesic environment at Megiddo, the A. syriacus population passes through 11 larval stages, maturity being reached in eight years and followed by three adult stadia, vs 12 larval and four adult stages, maturity being attained in six years in the more xeric conditions at Brosh. The eggs laid at Megiddo during July and August appear to be considerably smaller and less caloric in value than those laid at Brosh in May. Acknowledgements. Special thanks go to Anatoly B. Babenko, the collector who kindly rendered me the material for study. Roman A. Rakitov (PIN) helped me greatly in very skillfully taking the photographs.	en	Golovatch, S. I. (2024): Archispirostreptus syriacus (de Saussure, 1859), the largest and perhaps the most conspicuous millipede in the fauna of Israel. Russian Entomological Journal 33 (4): 513-515, DOI: 10.15298/rusentj.33.4.14
