Miniaria richarti Shear & Marek, 2023

Shear, William A. & Marek, Paul E., 2023, The millipede family Striariidae Bollman, 1893. VIII. Three new genera and four new species of minute millipedes from Oregon and Washington, USA (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Striarioidea), Zootaxa 5264 (3), pp. 323-340 : 328

Miniaria richarti Shear & Marek , n. sp.

Figs 12–25, 46–56

Types: All specimens deposited in CAS. Male holotype and female paratype from Rainier Road , 3.0 mi NW of Military Road , Fort Lewis Military Reservation , Thurston Co. Washington, collected 29 November 2003 by W. Leonard .

Diagnosis. Distinct from M. ramifera in lacking a posterior subterminal branch on the gonopod anterior angiocoxite, and in having the gonopods closely appressed in the midline. The anterior angiocoxite is sharply elbowed, not evenly curved as in M. ramifera .

Etymology. The species name honors Dr. Casey Richart, whose collecting has contributed much to our knowledge of the litter fauna of the Pacific Northwest and California.

Description. Male from Germany Creek. Length 3.0 mm, greatest width 0.30 mm.

Nonsexual characters and secondary sexual modifications as described for genus. Gonopods ( Figs 19–24, 46– 53) small, anterior angiocoxites ( aac, Fig. 19) distinctly elbowed at near right angle posteriorly, slightly knobbed at tips, distally with prominent fringed margin. Posterior angiocoxites ( pac, Fig. 19) about two-thirds length of anterior ones, fimbriate along posterior margin, divided into medial fimbriate region and longer, thin apical branch, sheathing single curved flagellocoxite or flagellum. Colpocoxite much reduced. Ninth legs ( Figs 25, 54, 55) as described for genus.

Females similar to males in all nonsexual respects.

Distribution. Oregon: Tillamook Co.: 1 mi W, 0.5 mi S of Lee’s Camp, 45.587°N, - 123.599°W, 700′ asl, 4 November 1972, E. M. Benedict, 2mm, 2ff.Washington:Cowlitz Co.: SR503, 11.4 mi E of I-5, 410′ asl, 45.968833°N, - 122.549817°W, 7 March 2004, W. Leonard, m, f; Pin Creek, 0.5 mi E of Carrolls, 46.267°N, - 122.853°W, 300′ asl. 7 March 2003. W. Leonard, m; Germany Creek, 5.3 mi N of SR4, 46.267°N, - 123.132°W, 11 November 2004, W. Leonard, m. Grays Harbor Co.: Porter Creek Campground, 46.978167°N, - 123.2565°W, 3 March 2005, W. Leonard, m. Lewis Co.:604 Roswell Road, Centralia, 280′ asl, 46.722317°N, - 122.9444°W, 25 January 2004, C. Richart, W. Leonard, m. Mason Co.: Kennedy Creek, 47.0876°N, - 123.0957°W, 30 March 2003, W. Leonard, 2 mm, f. Thurston Co.: Hospital Creek, above confluence with Skookumchuck River, 46.773267°N, - 122.58555°W, 15 December 2003, W. Leonard, K. McAllister, 2 mm; Black Lake and Belmore Road at 66th Avenue, Tumwater, 46.989°N, - 122.9665°W, 19 November 2004, W. P. Leonard, 2 mm, 5 ff; Summit Lake, 248′ asl, 47.002833°N, - 123.130167°N, 18 December 2004, W. Leonard, m; Olympia, Watershed Park, 11 February 2003, W. Leonard, m, f. Wahakiakum Co.: 11.7 mi on Elochoman Valley Road from SR4, 450′ asl, 46.316783°N, - 122.2617°W, 28 March 2004, C. Richart, m.

Notes. As with M. ramifera , variation is evident in the gonopod drawings, but it is not certain if this represents true geographic variation or is simply due to slightly different viewing angles. In the males from Hospital Creek ( Fig. 47) and Centralia, the even curvature of the anterior angiocoxite of M. ramifera is approached, while in Lee’s Camp ( Figs 52, 53), Kennedy Creek ( Fig. 51) and Toutle ( Fig. 49) males, the anterior angiocoxite bends at almost a right angle—with the Lee’s Camp ( Figs 52, 53) and Kennedy Creek ( Fig. 51) males having a distinct knob at the bend. A common feature appears to be the division of the fimbriate posterior angiocoxite into a thin distal branch and a broader, more proximal portion. Parts of specimens on SEM stubs: Hospital Creek, WS36-10; Kennedy Creek, WS36-3; Lee’s Camp, WS36-4.