Mollov I., D. Georgiev, O. Todorov (Eds.) Faunistic diversity of the city of Plovdiv (Bulgaria), 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, Sofia, 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 millipedes 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 millipede 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 Yambol 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 Panagyurishte 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 Myriapoda (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.