Pseudotremia garlandae Lewis, 2005, new species

Pseudotremia garlandae new species

Figs. 5–8

Material examined: Tennessee: Fentress Co., Redbud Cave, dissected 26mm holotype male, 1 paratype male, 5 juveniles J. Lewis, S. Lewis, H. Garland, N. Mann 14 September 2003; Little Jack Creek Cave, 3 juveniles, J. Lewis, S. Lewis, H. Garland, N. Mann, 14 September 2003.

Diagnosis: Within the Eburnea Group of Shear (1972), P. garlandae most closely resembles P. acheron, from which P. garlandae is distinguished by the much longer body, presence of pigment, and longer antenna segment 3. The lateral angiocoxite of the two species differs significantly, with that of P. garlandae being much shorter, barely extending beyond the branch of the structure, whereas in P. acheron it extends with the appearance of a long, tapering spine.

Description of male: Longest approximately 26mm (coiled), width increasing from 1.3mm (collum) to 2.7mm (7th segment); body light to medium brown with purple­gray infusion, metaterga with prominent subovate reticulated spot and scattered tubercles, dorsal midline stripe light brown, purple infusion intensified in pregonopodal segments, darkest on head and antennae; sterna and legs pale brown. Eyes with 19–20 clear, unpigmented ocelli within subtriangular purple ocellaria. Antennae about 3.6mm long, slender, 3rd segment about 1.5mm long. Segmental paranota distinct, largest anterior to about mid­body, becoming indistinct from lateral striae about segment 22–24. Lateral striae about 11–13.

Gonopods with syncolpocoxites mitten­shaped, separated by U­shaped cleft, process class I, arising from the notch between the syncolpocoxites and curving dorsad between angiocoxites, in anterior view broadened distally, deeply notched apically forming two subtriangular lobes. Median angiocoxite simple, erect, spines or processes absent. Lateral angiocoxite separated from median by a deep, U­shaped cleft, sigmoidally curved, divided, mesial branch shorter, slightly recurved, extending slightly laterad across longer lateral branch in anterior view. Leg 9 with distal 3 segments well formed and apparently functional, single claw present.

Female: Adult unknown.

Etymology: This species is named in honor of Heather Garland of The Nature Conservancy, in gratitude for her assistance during the field work for this project, as well as her dedication to the conservation of Tennessee caves and their fauna.

Vernacular name: Garland’s cave milliped.

Habitat and Range: The millipeds in Redbud Cave were taken from pitfall traps placed in riparian mud banks. In Little Jack Creek Cave the specimens were taken by hand from leaf litter and wood. Pseudotremia garlandae is easily separable from P. acheron Shear by its pigmented appearance, suggesting that P. garlandae might be a troglophile. A search of sinkhole floors, mesic ravines or other sheltered habitats in the Jim Creek area might reveal epigean habitats for this species.

Pseudotremia garlandae is known only from Redbud and Little Jack Creek caves along Jim Creek in Pickett State Forest (Tennessee Division of Forestry), located approximately 3 miles (5 km) east of Pall Mall. Redbud Cave has 5,109 feet (ca. 1600 meters) of surveyed passages. Since Redbud Cave is hydrologically connected to Little Jack Creek Cave (about 250 meters in length) and the entrances are about 150 meters apart, the juveniles from the latter are assumed to be this species. Pseudotremia juveniles were collected from Cornstarch Cave and The Aqueduct (cave), in the same area along Jim Creek. These are probably additional localities for P. garlandae, but adult males will be needed to confirm this.