Ligidium elrodii

Ligidium elrodii (Packard, 1873) Figs 19–20 Euphiloscia elrodii Packard, 1873: 97. Ligidium longicaudatum Stoller, 1902: 208, fig. 1. Material examined USA – West Virginia • 1 ♂; Pocahontas Co., Pocahontas Campground; 38.1026° N, 79.9666° W; 756 m a.s.l.; 13 Oct. 2022; M.. Caterino and E. Recuero leg.; CUAC000174439 • 1 ♀; Randolph Co., Monongahela N.F.; 38.5595° N, 79.9262° W; 1135 m a.s.l.; 12 Oct. 2022; M. Caterino and E. Recuero leg.; CUAC000174441 • 2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000174440, CUAC000174442 • 1 imm.; same data as for preceding; CUAC000174443. Remarks The studied specimens from West Virginia have been collected in leaf litter from deciduous and conifer forests at mid-elevations (Fig. 18). They differ slightly from the ones illustrated from North Carolina (Schultz 1970, 1982). Particularly, males from North Carolina present ten scale-like spines on the distal margin of the tip of male pleopod 2 endopodite, while those from West Virginia present four (Fig. 19D– E). Also, the illustration of a male pleopod 2 exopodite from North Carolina shows a large spiniform or plumose seta on the inner corner of the caudal margin, not present in the samples from West Virginia (Fig. 19C). These differences could indicate different species, but we refrain from proposing any more new names for this complex, until the true status of Ligidium elrodii and L. longicaudatum may be clarified. This species is not closely related to any of the other taxa included in our analyses (Fig. 1A). Four subspecies of Ligidium elrodii have been described from caves in the states of Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia, based on differences in the male pleopod 2 endopodite (Schultz 1970). One of them, L. e. leensis, from Bowling Cave, Lee Co., Virginia (see map in Fig. 18), is relatively similar to our specimens and to those illustrated from North Carolina, differing in a more markedly squarish process on the inner margin of male pleopod 2 endopodite, with only two scale-like spines on its distal margin. Indeed, it could represent a different species, but until L. elrodii is revised we prefer to maintain its status. The other three have more pronounced differences in this particular structure, which are indicative of specific status. We propose to raise them to full species.