Biologia Serbica

Four new species of Unixenus Jones, 1944 (Diplopoda: Penicillata: Polyxenidae) from the mid-central coastal region and two islands off the coast of Vietnam

2026-02-04T15:07:58+01:00

Four new species of Unixenus Jones, 1944, U. binhdinhensis sp. nov., U. lysonensis sp. nov., U. phanrangensis sp. nov. and U. phuquyensis sp. nov., are described from grassland habitats in the mid-central coastal region of Vietnam and two offshore islands. All four species share the diagnostic morphological characters typical of Unixenus. Due to their similar body size, overall morphology, and partially overlapping geographic distributions, these taxa are morphologically cryptic and difficult to distinguish using traditional taxonomic characters. Morphological comparisons suggest two closely related species groups with mainland coastal and offshore island distributions. However, molecular phylogeny reveals clear genetic differentiation among all four taxa, supporting their recognition as distinct species. This study also highlights the presence of cryptic diversity within Unixenus and demonstrates the importance of integrative taxonomy, incorporating molecular phylogenetics, for resolving species boundaries in morphologically conservative penicillate millipede lineages from Southeast Asia. A key to the Vietnamese species of Unixenus is also included in this study.

Rediscovery of a forgotten endemic: Lithobius demavendicus Matic, 1969 from Iran (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha: Lithobiidae)

2026-03-02T09:56:05+01:00

The Iranian endemic species Lithobius demavendicus Matic, 1969 is rediscovered and redescribed based on newly collected specimens. Previously, the species was known only from an incomplete, most probably subadult male lacking the ultimate pair of legs, collected at high altitudes on Mount Damavand, a well-known inactive volcanic mountain in northern Iran. The new records confirm its occurrence on this mountain and at lower altitudes, and also indicate a troglophilic tendency for the species, as evidenced by its relatively frequent presence in caves in the northeastern part of the country. The first complete description of females and adult males is provided, together with an account of changes in morphological characters during postembryonic development. A brief comparison with morphologically similar species was conducted, and the taxonomic status of L. demavendicus is discussed.

Cuticular surface microstructure in Chelodesmidae and some related families (Diplopoda: Polydesmida)

2026-01-14T12:51:52+01:00

The cuticular surface structures of 23 species of the family Chelodesmidae, as well as 11 species of related families, were studied using a scanning electron microscope. Cytoscute shapes were found to vary, from a regular penta-/hexagonal shape to a stretched and/or branched, jigsaw puzzle-like structure. Complicated boundaries between cytoscutes may increase cuticular stability. A row of ca. 0.001 mm long denticles was often found, mostly along the posterior margin of the cytoscutes; and may add friction by backwards movement. In a few genera, the entire cytoscute is covered with similar denticles, which in some cases may help to attach a secretal protective cover. Roundish structures visible between cytoscutes may be fungal in nature.

Garden composters as refugia for myriapods: environmental factors shaping species distribution

2026-02-18T09:56:21+01:00

Home composting has become an increasingly popular method for organic waste management; however, the invertebrate communities inhabiting garden compost remain poorly studied. The present study focused on myriapod (centipede and millipede) communities in 61 home composters in the Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. Heat extraction yielded 82 centipede individuals representing seven species and 36 millipede individuals representing five species. The most abundant species were Lithobius microps Meinert, 1868, Lithobius forficatus (Linnaeus, 1758), Polydesmus inconstans Latzel, 1884, and Choneiulus palmatus (Němec, 1895). Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that myriapod distribution was significantly influenced by composter design (where open systems appears better for myriapods), waste composition (particularly animal residues and garden waste), phosphorus content, and waste addition frequency. Generalized additive models identified species-specific responses: Stenotaenia linearis (C. L. Koch, 1835) was strongly associated with animal waste (R² = 66.2%), while Geophilus flavus (De Geer, 1778) and C. palmatus preferred compost containing garden waste only. Our results demonstrate that garden composters function as concentration points for myriapod species from surrounding habitats, providing favourable microhabitat conditions and food resources. Despite low overall myriapod abundance (1.5% of all sampled invertebrates), species richness was relatively high, and management practices significantly influenced community composition. The present study highlights the ecological significance of home composters as potential biodiversity refuges in urban habitats, and calls for greater research attention to invertebrate communities in garden compost.

Use of fluorescent powder as a method for marking millipedes

2026-01-25T20:02:30+01:00

Millipedes (class Diplopoda) are a diverse group of detritivores that are crucial for nutrient cycling and decomposition. Despite this, there are gaps in our knowledge of their ecology, such as home range, movement patterns, population size, and sociality. This is partly due to the fact that there has been no effective method for marking millipedes, because of their small size, elongate shape, and fossorial behavior. There has been previous research on the usage of fluorescent powder for mark-recapture and movement studies on insects. We tested the effectiveness of fluorescent powder as a marking method using members of the North American families Parajulidae (Julida) and Xystodesmidae (Polydesmida). Initial lab studies assessed the longevity of fluorescent powder and impact on mortality using twenty individuals: ten marked with powder and ten unmarked. For both species, the use of fluorescent powder had no apparent impact on individual mortality. Areas on the millipede where powder was retained varied, with Ptyoiulus impressus (Say, 1821) retaining powder on the sterna and Dicellarius paynei (Shelley, 2002) retaining powder under the paranota. Immediately after the mortality study, the powder was assessed for longevity when exposed to water, by submerging each remaining marked individual into water, then assessing changes in the markings. Exposure to water had no apparent impact on the fluorescent powder markings. A field experiment was conducted to assess longevity in natural conditions, possible transfer between individuals, and survival of marked individuals in the wild. Marked and unmarked individuals were placed into mesocosms for approximately two weeks. All marked individuals retained markings and were easily differentiated from unmarked individuals. Overall, fluorescent powder shows promise as an effective method for marking individual millipedes, even in field conditions, and could prove useful for future studies.

Myriapodology in Serbia

2026-02-21T20:11:47+01:00

Myriapods, one of the most ancient and diverse groups of terrestrial arthropods, remain relatively understudied worldwide. Serbia is an exception, with a tradition of research dating back to 1882, when the first millipede and centipede species were recorded. Until the end of the 20th century, studies were sporadic and primarily conducted by foreign researchers. A major turning point occurred in 1995 with the establishment of systematic research at the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Biology. Since then, intensive and collaborative efforts by the research group have greatly expanded the knowledge of Serbian myriapods. The team now includes over ten researchers spanning three generations, investigating taxonomy, faunistics, biogeography, biospeleology, development, reproduction, chemoecology, toxicology, biological activity, and behaviour. Recent work has also focused on the poorly known Symphyla and Pauropoda. This review provides a brief history of myriapod research in Serbia and highlights the contributions of Serbian researchers from 1995 to 2025, including a complete bibliography of the last three decades.

The coevolution of genitalia in Diplopoda Eugnatha

2026-03-09T08:27:15+01:00

The genitalia of Diplopoda Eugnatha are characterised by a remarkably high degree of functional-morphological disparity. The differences between major taxa concern not only a rather superficial 'ornamentation', such as the shape, proportion and number of certain parts, but there are also substantial disparities in the fundamental functional morphology and in the configuration of female and male structures in relation to each other. The evolutionary pathways and selective mechanisms that led to this disparity remain poorly understood. Here, a brief narrative review on the genital mechanics in Diplopoda Eugnatha is provided and differences between individual species are illustrated using simplified diagrams. Two contrasting hypotheses regarding the genital mechanics of the last common ancestor of Eugnatha are presented. The telopodite hypothesis assumes that this ancestor had already fully differentiated the eighth pair of male legs into gonopodes, and that it would have transferred sperm with the modified telopodite of this gonopods. In contrast, the coxal sac hypothesis assumes that the ancestor would have transferred sperm using the coxal organs of nearly unmodified walking legs. It is currently unclear which of the two narratives is more likely to be true. A comparative approach highlights a particularly striking evolutionary trend, namely a mutual fitting between male and female structures that is made possible by female cooperative structures, complementary to male structures. Female and males structures together stabilise the mutual genital entanglement and increase the chances of successful sperm transfer.

Changes in the millipede fauna of the British Isles between 1958 and 2025

2026-02-05T09:43:23+01:00

The number of millipede species found from the British Isles can be tracked through key publications in 1958, 1985, 2006 and 2025 and has increased from 43 to 84. The number of orders of millipede has also increased from five to eight, and now includes representatives from the largely tropical orders Spirobolida and Siphonophorida. There has been an increase in species found from heated glasshouses, some of which are now breeding successfully outside. The British fauna includes a large proportion of species from the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, especially in the orders Chordeumatida and Julida. This may be due to historical links between these areas, including the transportation of goods for industrial processes.

On the true identity of Scolopendra robusta Kraepelin, 1903 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae), with corrections to records of centipedes from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

2026-03-05T09:55:20+01:00

The Chilopoda of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico have been poorly studied until now. In this work, the historical literature is reviewed, old Scolopendromorpha specimens are (re)examined, and updated locality records are provided. One of the species, Scolopendra robusta Kraepelin, 1903, previously considered a potential synonym of Scolopendra viridis Say, 1821, Scolopendra polymorpha Wood, 1861, or Arthrorhabdus pygmaeus (Pocock, 1895), is here regarded as a junior synonym of Scolopendra gigantea Linnaeus, 1758, and is formally deleted from the fauna of Mexico. A published Mexican record of Scolopendra dehaani Brandt, 1840 is considered either as a mislabeling or as a transient introduction and the species is deleted from Mexico. A museum specimen and unpublished record of Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1816 from a Mexican locality is considered to be mislabeled and the species is here simultaneously reported and deleted from Mexico. The count of species of Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 regarded to occur in the country is updated to 12, of which seven are endemic, four are native, and one is introduced. The species Scolopendra heros Girard, 1853 and Hemiscolopendra marginata (Say, 1821) are reported from the state of Nuevo León for the first time. Further, two museum specimens and unpublished record of the genus Ethmostigmus Pocock, 1898 and the species Ethmostigmus trigonepoda (Leach, 1816) from Monterrey, Mexico are considered mislabelled and simultaneously reported and deleted.

Myriapoda in a Fractured World. Proceedings of the 20th International Congress of Myriapodology (Srebrno Jezero, Serbia)

2026-02-27T22:31:04+01:00