Benlomondia benlomondensis Shear & Marek, 2025

Shear, William A. & Marek, Paul E., 2025, Additions to the family Caseyidae Verhoeff, 1909. V. The new genus Benlomondia and two new species (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Striariidea, Caseyoidea), Zootaxa 5659 (3), pp. 400-406 : 402-403

Benlomondia benlomondensis Shear & Marek , sp. nov.

Figs 1–8 , 11

Types: Male holotype, male paratype and two female paratypes from Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz Co., California, 37.089°N, - 122.089°W, collected 22 January 1955 by D. Burdick & M. Wasbauer. Parts of the holotype and paratype males are mounted on SEM stubs WS38-4. Types deposited in Essig Museum of Entomology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California ( EMEC) . Additional specimens: CALIFORNIA: Santa Cruz Co.: UCSC campus, ravine beside Earth Sciences Building , 36.998°N, - 122.059°W, 15 February 2004, W. Leonard, m ff ( VMNH) ; UCSC campus, Cave Gulch , near large cave opening, lat/long as above, 14 February 2004, W. Leonard, ff ( VMNH) .

Etymology. The species name refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis. Distinct from Benlomondia mateo , sp. nov., in details of the gonopods and ninth legpair. In B. benlomondensis , the stem formed from the appressed angiocoxites is narrower than in B. mateo and the terminal branches are different (cf. Figs 6 and 9 ). The coxal processes of the ninth legpair (cp, Fig. 7 ) are apically bifid in B. benlomondensis , while those of B. mateo are entire, broader, and sickle-shaped (cp, Fig. 9 ).

Description. Holotype male. About 4.5 mm long, 0.52 mm in diameter. Eyepatch linear, consisting of four small, black ommatidia ( Fig. 1 ). With the characters of the genus. Male first legpair incrassate, femora each with two twisted blade-like macrosetae, single similar macrosetae on postfemora, tarsi with ventral combs of 5–8 short setae (t1, Fig. 2 ). Male second legs with gonapophyses (ga, Figs 2, 3 ) shorter than femora, anteriorly hooked, densely set with long, thin curling setae. Opening of vas deferens or possible accessory pore not observed; telopodites not greatly reduced, without specialized setae (t2, Fig. 2 ). Male third leg coxae (cx3, Fig. 4 ) with low, short distal lobe with many recumbent, curled setae (cl, Fig. 4 ); telopodites not reduced, femora slightly depressed ventrally, otherwise unmodified (t3, Fig. 4 ). Legpairs 4–7 not incrassate. Gonopods in anterior view ( Fig. 5 ) with coxae, sternum and angiocoxites of each side fused (cxs, Fig. 5 ), angiocoxites narrow. In posterior view ( Figs 6 , 11 ), angiocoxites distally broadly expanded, with three divisions: the posteriormost membranous and set with many fine cuticular filaments; the next anterior extending at right angles, with an acute basal branch and hooked apex; the most anterior rounded lobes with cuticular filaments (ac, Figs 5, 6 , 11 ). Colpocoxites long, narrow, poorly sclerotized (cc, Figs 5, 6 , 11 ). Ninth leg coxae (cx9, Fig. 7 ) with large distal processes (cp, Fig. 7 ), slightly twisted and bifid apically, gland openings at bases of processes (g, Fig. 7 ); telopodites single-articled, not exceeding coxal processes, laterally flattened, setose (t9, Fig. 7 ). Tenth coxae enlarged (cx10, Fig 8 ), bearing gland openings (g, Fig. 8 ). Telopodites (t10, Fig. 8 ) somewhat reduced.

Paratype female. As male in nonsexual characters, vulvae without distinguishing features.

Notes. The label for the holotype and accompanying paratypes provide no more detailed locality than “Ben Lomond,” a small community north of Santa Cruz. Our coordinates are therefore for the center of town, though it is likely the specimens were collected elsewhere in the vicinity.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Benlomondia benlomondensis, sp. nov., paratypes. 1. Head and anterior end of female, lateral view. 2. Legpairs 1 and 2 of male, anterior view. 3. Gonapophyses. 4. Left leg 3 of male, posterior view. 5. Goonopods, anterior view. 6. Gonopods, posterior view. Abbreviations: ac, angiocoxites; cc, colpocoxite; cl, coxal lobe; cx3, coxa of leg 3; cxs, coxosternite of gonopods; ga, gonapophysis; t1, telopodite of leg 1; t2, telopodite of leg 2; t3, telopodite of leg 3.

FIGURES 7–10. 7, 8. Benlomondia benlomondensis, sp. nov., paratype male. 7. Legpair 9, posterior view. 8. Right legpair 10, anterior view. 9, 10. Benlomondia mateo, sp. nov., male holotype. 9. Gonopods and legpair 9, posterior view. 10. Legpair 3, anterior view. Abbreviations: ac, angiocoxite; cc, colpocoxite; cl, coxal lobe of leg 3; cp, coxal process; cx3, coxa of leg 3; cx9, coxa of leg 9; cx10, coxa of leg 10; g, gland opening; t3, telopodite of leg 3; t9, telopodite of leg 9; t10, telopodite of leg 10.

FIGURES 11–12. 11. Gonopods of paratype Benlomondia benlomondensis, sp. nov., posterior view. 12. Gonopods of holotype Benlomondia mateo, sp. nov., anterior view.