Mollov I., D. Georgiev, O. Todorov (Eds.) Faunistic diversity of the city of (), Volume 1 – Invertebrates Bulletin of the Natural History Museum – Plovdiv Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Plovdiv, 2018, Supplement 1: 13-18

Myriapoda (Chilopoda and Diplopoda) of the City of Plovdiv

Boyan L. Vagalinski1*, Pavel E. Stoev2, Plamen G. Mitov3

1 - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, 2 Gagarin St., 1113, , BULGARIA 2 - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, BULGARIA, and Pensoft Publishers, 12 Prof. Georgi Zlatarski St., 1700 Sofia, BULGARIA 3 - Sofia University, Faculty of Biology, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, BULGARIA *Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract. The paper presents the first contribution to the study of the centipedes and of the city of Plovdiv. A total of 20 species (8 chilopods and 12 diplopods) belonging to 16 genera, 11 families, and 8 orders are recorded from the city. All but one species, Megaphyllum unilineatum (C.L. Koch, 1838), are new to the city, most of them being common and widely distributed in Bulgaria. Of particular interest is the finding of a geophilid centipede with an unclear generic appurtenance, which shows similarities to both Clinopodes C. L. Koch and Pleurogeophilus Verhoeff, and of a recently described species - Metonomastus petrovi Antić et al. 2018.

Key words: centipedes, millipedes, first records, new species, Plovdiv City.

Introduction ancient history with intensive trading, possibly The surveys on the Bulgarian myriapod fauna resulting in a number of introduced species, and have a long history dating back to CHRISTOVICH the many green areas, especially those alongside (1892). An annotated checklist of the myriapod Maritsa River that remain moist throughout the fauna of Bulgaria was recently published by year, presenting suitable habitats for centipedes BACHVAROVA et al. (2017). However, studies on and millipedes. Moreover, the city is almost the myriapods living in the Bulgarian cities are completely unstudied as regards its myriapods, rather scattered and concern only Sofia City with only a single species, Megaphyllum (STOEV, 2004) and Shumen City (BACHVAROVA unilineatum (C.L. Koch, 1838), being hitherto & STOEV, 2008; BACHVAROVA, 2011; and known from its territory. BACHVAROVA et al., 2015). Considerable amount Here we present the results of a study on of data on the centipedes (Chilopoda) of the myriapods of Plovdiv City, based on City can be found in the PhD thesis of Georgi material collected from 2002 until 2018. Ribarov (RIBAROV, 1985). Likewise, information about the millipedes of City can be Material and Methods found in the PhD thesis of Yasen Christov All specimens are preserved in the National (CHRISTOV, 1986). Museum of Natural History, Sofia (Chilopoda) The second largest Bulgarian city - Plovdiv, and the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem is of special interest in that respect due to its Research (Diplopoda). The samples were mostly

© Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Plovdiv Regional Natural History Museum – Plovdiv http://rnhm.org/en/ University of Plovdiv Publishing House (Chilopoda and Diplopoda) of the City of Plovdiv hand-collected, with a few coming from pitfall “Lauta” Park, 42°08’18.20”N 24°46’40.05”E; traps. The collecting sites (marked with crosses on “Danov halm” Hill, 42°08’44.64”N 24°44’47.59”E; Fig. 1) are as follows: Bunardzhika Hill, between Maritsa River and the Rowing channel, 42°08’43.45”N 24°44’16.82”E; at the foot of 42°08’36.97”N 24°42’15.09”E; Branipole Village, Bunardzhika Hill, next to Highschool of Trade, 42°05’55.19”N 24°45’52.64”E; “Otdih i kultura” 42°08’34.71”N 24°44’26.09”E; “Parashutna kula” Park, 42°08’35.71”N 24°42’47.74”E; the Park, 42°08’05.41”N 24°45’20.08”E; Dzhendema surroundings of the Institute of Pomology, Hill, 42°08’17.59”N 24°43’56.53”E; at the foot of 42°06’21.00”N 24°43’40.21”E. In addition to the Dzhendema Hill, next to the tennis court, studied material, the relevant literature concerning 42°08’05.08”N 24°43’40.42”E; “Tsar Simeonova Bulgarian Myriapoda was checked for records gradina” Park, 42°08’31.36”N 24°44’49.85”E; referring to Plovdiv City.

Fig. 1. Satellite image of Plovdiv City with the sampling sites indicated with white crosses (modified from Google Maps). Results and Discussion males, females & juvs., “Danov halm” Hill, pitfall traps, 18.IX.2017, Mollov & Dincheva Class Chilopoda leg.; 1 ad. female, Bunardhika Hill, 10.IV.2018, Order Scutigeromorpha P. Mitov leg. Family Scutigeridae Note: This is a widespread Mediterranean species. 1. Scutigera coleoptrata (Linnaeus, 1758) Material: 1 ad. male, at the foot of Order Lithobiomorpha Bunardzhika Hill, 5.VI.2002, P. Mitov leg.; 1 Family Lithobiidae juv., Dzhendema Hill, 29.IV.2003, P. Mitov leg.; 1 juv., “Danov halm” Hill, 14.VIII.2016, P. 2. Eupolybothrus transsylvanicus (Latzel, Mitov leg.; many males, females & juvs., 1882) Bunardzhika Hill, pitfall traps, 18.IX.2017, Material: 1 ad. female, at the foot of Mollov & Dincheva leg.; many males, females Bunardzhika Hill, 15.IX.2002; 1 ad. male, 1 ad. & juvs.., Dzhendema Hill, pitfall traps, female, next to the Rowing channel, 18.IX.2017, Mollov & Dincheva leg.; many 28.IV.2003; 1 ad. male, at the foot of

14 Boyan L. Vagalinski, Pavel E. Stoev, Plamen G. Mitov Dzhendema Hill, near the tennis court, 6.IX.2003; 1 subad.. female, “Tsar Simeonova Order Scolopendromorpha gradina” Park, 3.IX.2003; all collected by P. Family Scolopendridae Mitov. 7. Scolopendra cingulata Latreille, 1829 3. Lithobius (Lithobius) forficatus Linnaeus, Material: 1 juv., Dzhendema Hill, 1758 29.IV.2003, P. Mitov leg.; 1 ad., Bunardzhika Material: 1 male, “Lauta” Park, 18.IV.2017, Hill, 10.IV.2018, P. Mitov leg. P. Mitov leg. 8. Cryptops anomalans Newport, 1844 4. Lithobius (Monotarsobius) crassipes L. Material: 1 ad. without last leg-pair, Plovdiv, Koch, 1862 Dzhendema Hill, 29.IV.2003; 1 ad. without last Material: 1 ad. male, 1 ad. female, leg-pair, “Otdih i kultura” Park, in close Dzhendema Hill, 29.IV.2003, P. Mitov leg. proximity to the Zoo, under stones and wood, 13.X.2002; 1 juv., “Danov halm” Hill, Order Geophilomorpha 14.VIII.2016; all collected by P. Mitov. Family Dignathodontidae Class Diplopoda 5. Henia illyrica (Meinert, 1870) Order Polyxenida Material: 1 male, 1 female, Plovdiv, Family Polyxenidae “Parashutna kula” Park, under stones, 18.IV.2017; 1 male, 1 female, Plovdiv, 9. Polyxenus sp. Dzhendema Hill, 29.IV.2003; 1 female, Material: 3 specimens, at the foot of Plovdiv, “Lauta” Park, 18.IV.2017; 1 male, Bunardzhika Hill, in close proximity to the Plovdiv, “Danov halm” Hill, dry soil, under High school of Trade, 19.IV.2017, P. Mitov leg. stones, 6.IX.2003; all collected by P. Mitov. Note: Species-level identification of polyxenids is very difficult, and although the Family Geophilidae examined individuals most likely belong to 6. Geophilidae gen. sp. Polyxenus lagurus, we prefer to remain on the Material: 1 female, the garden behind safe side until there is securely identified Bunardzhika Hill, near the city square, under material for comparison. stones, 18.IV.2017; 2 ad. ex., Dzhendema Hill, 29.IV.2003; 1 ex., “Lauta” Park, under concrete Order Polydesmida and stones, 4.IX.2003; 1 ex., next to the Family Polydesmidae Institute of Pomology, dry soil, under stones, 08.IX.2003; all collected by P. Mitov. 10. Polydesmus complanatus (Linnaeus, 1761) Note. Despite the abundant material on Material: 2 males, 2 females, 1 juv., near the hand, we were unable to identify the specimens Rowing channel, by the bank of Maritsa River, down to species. The most characteristic trait 19.IV.2017, P. Mitov leg. of the species is the leg number – 75–79 Note: This is the most common polydesmid (females), last leg without claw, composed of species in Central and Eastern Europe, coxa and 6 very elongated articles, coxal pores introduced to the Near East and the Nearctic in clusters covered by the metasternite; isolated region; often occurring near human settlements pores missing; Chitin lines of forciples reaching (KIME & ENGHOFF, 2011); also recorded from the condyles. Forcipules with very the cities of Sofia (STOEV 2004) and Shumen inconspicuous basal denticles on tarsungula, (BACHVAROVA, 2011). sternites with transverse pore fields. These characters are found in both Clinopodes C. L. 11. Polydesmus mediterraneus Daday, 1889 Koch, 1847 and Pleurogeophilus Verhoeff, Material: 1 male, north of Branipole Village, 1901. However, the specimens differ from next to Chiirite hotel, by the ring road, under a Clinopodes by the lack of triangular sternal stone, 07.I.2014; 1 male, at the foot of pore fields, and from Pleurogeophilus by the Dzhendema Hill, 10.IX.2016; 2 males, 2 presence of coxosternal tubercles. females, many juv., at the foot of Bunardzhika

15 Myriapoda (Chilopoda and Diplopoda) of the City of Plovdiv Hill, in close proximity to the High school of Family Anthroleucosomotidae trade, 19.IV.2017; many males, females and juv., “Lauta” Park, Ulmus, Acer, Fraxinus etc., 14. Anamastigona bilselii (Verhoeff, 1940) in decaying wood, under stones and bark, Material: 1 male, 4 females, “Lauta” Park, 19.IV.2017; all collected by P. Mitov. under wood remains, 29.IV.2017, P. Mitov leg. Note: There are five described subspecies Note: In Bulgaria A. bilselii was hitherto of P. mediterraneus. Two of them–the known only from Shumen and Shumensko nominotypical one and P. mediterraneus Plateau (STRASSER, 1973; BACHVAROVA, 2011). valachicus Tabacaru & Negrea, 1961–are The new record and the fact that the species recorded also from Bulgaria. Most of the also occurs in European (ENGHOFF, material from Plovdiv City agrees with the 2006) and northeastern Greece (STRASSER, original description of P. mediterraneus 1976) suggest a much broader distribution in mediterraneus. The male from Branipole the southern and eastern parts of the country. shows an unusual gonopod shape, particularly a slender, bifurcated endomerite, and it cannot be Order ascribed to any of the known subspecies. Family Blaniulidae However, their distribution ranges and intrapopulational variations are largely 15. Cibiniulus phlepsii (Verhoeff, 1897) unknown, which makes their validity doubtful. Material: 1 male, near the Rowing channel, by the bank of Maritsa River, in decaying wood, 12. Polydesmus sp. 19.IV.2017, P. Mitov leg. Material: 2 females, north of Branipole Note: The species is known from several Village, next to Chiirite Hotel, under stones, places in eastern Bulgaria, and was recently 07.I.2014, P. Mitov leg. reported from the surroundings of Sofia Note: These two specimens certainly belong (BACHVAROVA et al., 2017). to a Polydesmus species different from the previous two. Its body size is in between that of Family 16. (C.L. Koch, 1847) P. complanatus and P. mediterraneus, and it Cylindroiulus boleti shows a characteristic colour pattern of dark Material examined: 2 males, 1 female, 5 juv., brown spots dorsomedially on metazonites, near the Rowing channel, by the bank of Maritsa divided by a blurred grey axial band. However, River, in decaying wood, 19.IV.2017, P. Mitov leg. the lack of adult males prevents us from Note: This is one of the most common establishing its identity. julidans in Bulgaria. It is known from various habitats and altitudes (VAGALINSKI & STOEV, 2007; KIME & ENGHOFF, 2017). It was already Family Paradoxosomatidae recorded from Sofia (STOEV, 2004) and Shumen (BACHVAROVA, 2011), so its finding in 13. Metonomastus petrovi Antić et al. 2018 urban habitats in the city of Plovdiv is not Record from Plovdiv City: ANTIĆ et al. surprising. (2018): p. 46. Note: The genus Metonomastus Attems, 17. Brachyiulus bagnalli Brolemann, 1924 1937 comprises 12 species distributed in Italy, Material: 9 males, 39 females, “Lauta” Park, the Balkans and western Anatolia (Golovatch & in leaf litter and under decaying wood remains, Stoev, 2004). This is the second species known 19.IV.2017, P. Mitov leg. to occur in Bulgaria, after the description of M. Note: This Central and Eastern European pomak Golovatch & Stoev, 2004 from the species is common in both urban and rural region of Ivailovgrad Town. M. petrovi is also areas, where it inhabits planted forests, city known with two records from caves in Western parks, house yards, agricultural land, etc. (KIME Rhodopi Mts. The present record reveals that & ENGHOFF, 2017). we are dealing with a troglophilous, rather than with a troglobitic species. 18. Brachyiulus lusitanus Verhoeff, 1898 Material: 2 males, 3 females, at the foot of Order Chordeumatida Bunardzhika Hill, in close proximity to the

16 Boyan L. Vagalinski, Pavel E. Stoev, Plamen G. Mitov High school of Trade, 19.IV.2017, P. Mitov pitfall and MSS trapping, would inevitably leg.; 2 males, 3 females, same locality, under increase the number of species recorded. This fallen bark, 20.V.2018, P. Mitov leg. is to be expected mainly for the Chilopoda, Note: B. lusitanus is a pan-Mediterranean which seem to have more representatives that species, introduced into Australia and North are able to adapt to the specific ecological America (VAGALINSKI et al., 2014; KIME & conditions in urban environments compared to ENGHOFF, 2017). It is known from various the Diplopoda. Both STOEV (2004) and habitats including cropland (KIME & BACHVAROVA (2011) recorded in urban ENGHOFF, 2017). In Bulgaria it was recorded environments considerably higher numbers of from the western parts of the country, centipedes than millipedes. including a park in Sofia (VAGALINSKI & STOEV, 2007). Acknowledgements We are grateful to Assoc. Prof. Ivelin 19. Megaphyllum unilineatum (C.L. Koch, Mollov, PhD (University of Plovdiv “Paisii 1838) Hilendarski”, Faculty of Biology, Department Record from Plovdiv City: Strasser (1969): of Ecology and Environmental Conservation) p. 159. and student Mina Dincheva (University of New material: 1 male, 3 females, at the foot Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”) for providing of Dzhendema Hill, 15.IX.2002, P. Mitov leg.; material for the present study. 2 males, 2 females, 1 juv., Bunardzhika Hill, pitfall traps, 18.IX.2017, Mollov & Dincheva References leg.; Bunardzhika Hill, under stones and dead ANTIĆ D., B. VAGALINSKI, P. STOEV, S. wood, 10.IV.2018, P. Mitov leg.; 1 female, at GOLOVATCH. 2018. Two new species of the foot of Bunardzhika Hill, in close proximity the millipede genus Metonomastus Attems, to the High school of trade, 20.V.2018, P. 1937 from the Balkan Peninsula Mitov leg. (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxoso- matidae). ZooKeys. 786: 43–57. 20. Ommatoiulus sabulosus (Linnaeus, BACHVAROVA D. 2011. Myriapoda (Chilopoda, 1758) Diplopoda) of Shumen City and Material: 1 female, 7 juveniles, “Otdih i Shumen Plateau (NE Bulgaria): kultura” Park, in close proximity to the Zoo, Taxonomic Structure and under stones, 19.IV.2017, P. Mitov leg. Zoogeographical Analysis. Acta zoologica bulgarica, 63(3): 245-262. Conclusions BACHVAROVA D., P. STOEV. 2008. A The 20 species recorded present a good contribution to the study of myriapods start to the study of myriapods of Plovdiv City (Diplopoda, Chilopoda) of the town of considering the low number of samples Shumen and the Shumen plateau examined. For comparison, 21 myriapods are (Northeastern Bulgaria). Annual of known from Sofia City, and 51 from Shumen Shumen University Episkop City (STOEV, 2004; BACHVAROVA, 2011, Konstantin Preslavski, Faculty of respectively), but these data are obtained Nature Sciences, 18B, 6: 55-70. (In through prolonged and extensive sampling Bulgarian). using different collecting methods. Most of BACHVAROVA D., A. DOYCHINOV, Ch. Plovdiv’s myriapod fauna, as currently DELTCHEV, P. STOEV. 2015. Habitat reviewed, comprises common, eurytopic distribution of myriapods (Chilopoda, species, which were previously recorded from Diplopoda) in the town of Shumen and urban/suburban environments. Metonomastus the Shumen Plateau (NE Bulgaria). petrovi, Anamastigona bilselii and Cibiniulus Arthropoda Selecta, 24(2): 169-184. phlepsii present more interesting findings in the BACHVAROVA D., B. VAGALINSKI, A. light of the rather scarce data on the DOICHINOV, P. STOEV. 2017. New distribution of these species. By all means, records of millipedes and centipedes further sampling in more areas of the city, and from Bulgaria, with an annotated with additional collecting methods, including

17 Myriapoda (Chilopoda and Diplopoda) of the City of Plovdiv

checklist of the Bulgarian myriapods. STOEV P. 2004. Myriapoda (Chilopoda, Zootaxa, 4263(3): 507-526. Diplopoda) in urban environments in CHRISTOV J. 1986. Species composition and the City of Sofia. In: Penev L., Niemelä distribution of the millipedes of class D.j., Kotze D., Chipev N. (eds), Ecology Diplopoda (Myriapoda) in the Sredna of the City of Sofia. Species and Gora Mountains with coenological Communities in Urban Environment. investigations in the Sashtinska Sredna PENSOFT Publishers, Sofia-Moscow, Gora Mountains. PhD Thesis. Paisii pp. 299-306. Hilendarski University of Plovdiv, STRASSER K. 1973. Über Diplopoden Plovdiv, 222 p. (In Bulgarian). Bulgariens, III. Ann. Zool. (Warszawa), CHRISTOVICH G. 1892. Materials for the 30(15): 411-469. exploration of the Bulgarian fauna. STRASSER K. 1976. Über Diplopoda- Sbornik za narodni umotvoreniya, Chilognatha Griechenlands II. Revue nauka i knizhnina, 8: 337-346 (In Suisse de Zoologie, 83(3): 579-645. Bulgarian). ENGHOFF H. 2006. The millipedes of Turkey (Diplopoda). Steenstrupia, 29(2): 175- Myriapoda (Chilopoda и Diplopoda) 198. от гр . Пловдив GOLOVATCH S.I., P. STOEV. 2008. A new species of the millipede genus Боян Л . Вагалински , Павел Е . Стоев , Metonomastus Attems, 1937 from a ПламенГ . Митов cave in the Eastern Rhodopes (Bulgaria) with some remarks on its congeners Резюме: В статията е представен (Diplopoda: Paradoxosomatidae). In: първият принос към изследването на Beron P., Popov, A. (eds), Biodiversity многоножките в гр. Пловдив. От града са of Bulgaria. 2. Biodiversity of Eastern регистрирани общо 20 вида (8 Chilopoda и 12 Rhodopes (Bulgaria and Greece). Diplopoda) от 16 рода, 11 семейства и 8 Pensoft and Nat. Mus. Natur. Hist., разреда. Всички видове, с изключение на Sofia, pp. 199–205. един, Megaphyllum unilineatum (C.L. Koch, KIME R.D., H. ENGHOFF. 2011. Atlas of 1838), са нови за града. Повечето от тях са European millipedes (Class Diplopoda), обикновени и широко разпространени в Vol 1. PENSOFT Publichers, Sofia- България. Особен интерес представлява Moskow, 282 p. откриването на геофилидна стоножка с KIME R.D., H. ENGHOFF. 2017. Atlas of неясна родова принадлежност, която European millipedes 2: Order Julida показва прилики както с Clinopodes C. L. (Class Diplopoda). European Journal of Koch, така и с Pleurogeophilus Verhoeff, Taxonomy 346: 1-299. както и наскоро описаната многоножка RIBAROV G. 1985. Species composition, Metonomastus petrovi Antić et al. 2018. ecology, distribution and significance of the centipedes (Chilopoda) in southeastern Bulgaria. Ph.D. Thesis, Plovdiv, “Paissii Hilendarski” University. 148 p. (In Bulgarian). VAGALINSKI B., P. STOEV. 2007. An annotated catalogue of the millipede order Julida (Diplopoda) in Bulgaria. Historia Naturalis Bulgarica, 18: 35-63. VAGALINSKI B., S. GOLOVATCH, S.M. SIMAIAKIS, H. ENGHOFF, P. STOEV. 2014. Millipedes of Cyprus (Myriapoda: Diplopoda). Zootaxa, 3835(4): 528-548.

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