Dendrodrilus Omodeo 1956

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2010, Megadrile earthworm taxa introduced to South African soils (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae, Eudrilidae, Glossoscolecidae, Lumbricidae, Megascolecidae, Ocnerodrilidae), African Invertebrates 51 (2), pp. 289-289 : 299-300

Genus Dendrodrilus Omodeo 1956

Dendrodrilus rubidus ( Savigny, 1826: 182) (s.l.) includes D. r. rubidus ( Savigny, 1826) and D. r. subrubicundus ( Eisen, 1873) . Both subspecies reproduce parthenogenetically in variable morphs and have been described under numerous synonymic names. These parthenogenetic and polyploidy forms are often separated into subspecies, but sometimes are identified under “ rubidus ” s. l. Following the observations of Csuzdi & Zicsi (2003), and Blakemore (2004 a), two subspecies are recognised in this paper.

Dendrodrilus rubidus rubidus ( Savigny, 1826: 182)

Described from Paris, France. Distributed widely all over the world. In RSA reported from numbering localities. Large populations were observed by Horn et al. (2007) in Limpopo forests, and in the Drakensberg North mountain range at altitudes over 1700m (LP). The 88 recent records in the NMSAD confirm its broad distribution in KZN protected areas: Pongola Bush Nat. Res., Itala Game Reserve, Ngele Forest, Mapelane Nat. Res., Karkloof Nat. Res., Karkloof Benvie farm, Newcastle Incandu Forest, Vryheid Hill Nat. Res., the central part of the Drakensberg at Cathedral Peak, Rainbow Gorge Forest and Doreen Falls, Oribi Gorge, Good Hope Farm (Mondi), Impendle Nat. Res., Gxalingenwa Nat. Res., and Swartkop Forest. Common in arable soils in KZN, FS, GP, EC and WC. Occurs abundantly in natural and cultivated soil, from sea level to high altitudes of the Drakensberg mountains. Under favourable SA climate this species is active throughout year, appearing in large populations. Being such a great consumer of organic matter ( Csuzdi & Zicsi 2003) it may compete for food with native invertebrates, and possibly should be controlled in RSA.

Found together with the microchaetids Tritogenia ngelensis Plisko, 1997 , T. liversagei Plisko, 1997 , Proandricus adriani Plisko, 2000 , Geogenia idechorita Plisko,

2003; and juvenile Proandricus sp. ; and with the indigenous acanthodrilids Parachilota timothyi Plisko, 2008 , P. uysae Plisko, 2008 ; P. bavenda Pickford, 1937 , P. hutchinsoni Pickford, 1937 ; also with other introduced lumbricids Aporrectodea trapezoides , A. rosea , Octolasion lacteum , D. r. subrubicundus and Dendrobaena octaedra , and nearly always with Amynthas diffringens and Dichogaster sp.

Dendrodrilus rubidus subrubicundus ( Eisen, 1873: 51)

Distributed widely over the world, appears usually together with D. r. rubidus . In RSA reported by Michaelsen (1899 a) from ‘Oranje-Kolonie’ (FS), ‘Kapland’ (WC), and Zicsi (1998) from Otto’s Bluff near Pietermaritzburg (KZN). Recorded in NMSAD from greens in Pretoria (GP) and near the road in the area of Pietermaritzburg (KZN). Reproducing parthenogenetically in variable morphs, often much similar to rubidus , frequently identified under rubidus and variable synonyms. It is possible that some part of the material identified earlier as rubidus may belong to this subspecies.