Ligidium blueridgensis Schultz, 1964

Ligidium blueridgensis Schultz, 1964

Figs 16–17 View Fig View Fig

Ligidium blueridgensis Schultz, 1964: 90 , pl. 1 figs 1–11, pl. 2 figs 12–14.

Material examined

USA – Georgia • 1 ♀; Rabun Co., Chattahoochee N.F., Rabun Cliffs ; 34.9713° N, 83.2978° W; 1244 m a.s.l.; 11 May 2021; M. Caterino and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000138049 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000180796 About CUAC , CUAC000180797 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Rabun Co., Chattahoochee N.F., Rabun Cliffs ; 34.9709° N, 83.3004° W; 1308 m a.s.l.; 25 Nov. 2019; M. Caterino leg.; CUAC000138078 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171280 About CUAC . GoogleMaps – North Carolina • 1 ♀; Avery Co., Grandfather Mountain ; 36.0893° N, 81.8388° W; 1387 m a.s.l.; 21 Apr. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000171348 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171346 About CUAC , CUAC000171347 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Avery Co., Grandfather Mountain, Bridge Trail ; 36.0948° N, 81.8311° W; 1554 m a.s.l.; 21 Apr. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000171339 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171340 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Avery Co., Grandfather Mountain, Grandfather Trail ; 36.0978° N, 81.8293° W; 1637 m a.s.l.; 21 Apr. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000171334 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 3 ♂♂; Caldwell Co., Grandfather Mountain, Boone Scout Trail ; 36.1164° N, 81.7844° W; 1259 m a.s.l.; 6 Oct. 2020; M. Caterino, F. Etzler and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000171307 About CUAC , CUAC000171308 About CUAC , CUAC000138059 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171309 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Graham Co., Nantahala N.F., Huckleberry Knob ; 35.3210° N, 83.9934° W; 1674 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000180792 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Haywood Co., Black Balsam Knob; 35.3289° N, 82.8745° W; 1839 m a.s.l.; 20 Oct. 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000138045 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Madison Co.: Pisgah N.F.: Camp Creek Bald ; 36.0220° N, 82.7167° W; 1445 m a.s.l.; 1 Mar. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171352 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 5 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171353 About CUAC to CUAC000171357 About CUAC GoogleMaps 1 ♂; Polk Co., North Pacolet River ; 35.2221° N, 82.3059° W; 384 m a.s.l.; 15 Feb. 2022; E. Recuero, M. Caterino, C. Harden and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171344 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Polk Co., Tryon, Melrose Falls ; 35.2199° N, 82.2987° W; 407 m a.s.l.; 10 Aug. 2021; E. Recuero, M. Caterino, A.Haberski and P.Wooden leg.; CUAC000171335 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 2♀♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171336 About CUAC , CUAC000171337 About CUAC GoogleMaps 2 ♂♂; Rutherford Co., Chimney Rock; 35.4372° N, 82.2506° W; 383 m. a.s.l.; 3 Apr. 2023; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and C.W. Harden leg.; CUAC0001169835 About CUAC , CUAC0001169838 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 3 ♂♂; Yancey Co., Pisgah N.F., Woody Ridge Trail ; 35.8455° N, 82.2279° W; 1259 m a.s.l.; 19 Oct. 2021; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000180795 About CUAC , CUAC000171326 About CUAC , CUAC000171327 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 6 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171328 About CUAC to CUAC000171333 About CUAC . GoogleMaps – South Carolina • 1 ♀; Greenville Co., Chestnut Ridge H.P., South Pacolet River ; 35.1503° N, 82.2804° W; 344 m a.s.l.; 15 Feb. 2022; E. Recuero leg.; CUAC000171350 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 2 ♂♂; Pickens Co., Sassafras Mountain ; 35.0647° N, 82.7774° W; 1029 m a.s.l.; 11 Jun. 2020; F.E. Etzler leg.; CUAC000180798 About CUAC , CUAC000180799 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000138055 About CUAC . GoogleMaps – Tennessee • 1 ♂; Greene Co., Cherokee N.F., Firescald Knob ; 36.0337° N, 82.7024° W; 1353 m a.s.l; 1 Mar. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171351 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Sevier Co., Great Smoky Mountains N.P., Mount LeConte ; 35.6427° N, 83.4426° W; 1581 m a.s.l.; 28 Sep. 2021; M. Caterino, E. Recuero, A. Haberski and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171276 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171338 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Sevier Co., Smoky Mountains N.P., Mount LeConte, Alum Cave ; 35.6382° N, 83.4387° W; 1317 m a.s.l.; 28 Sep. 2021; M. Caterino, E. Recuero, A. Haberski and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171325 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171323 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Sevier Co., Great Smoky Mountains N.P., off Highway 441 ; 35.6237° N, 83.4163° W; 1394 m a.s.l.; 12 Mar. 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000171275 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171299 About CUAC GoogleMaps • 2 imm.; Unicoi Co., Cherokee N.F., Big Bald ; 35.9938° N, 82.4573° W; 1596 m a.s.l.; 5 Aug. 2020; M. Caterino, A. Haberski and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171310 About CUAC , CUAC000171311 About CUAC . GoogleMaps

Remarks

This is the most widely distributed Ligidium species in the southern Appalachian Mountains ( Fig. 16 View Fig ), presenting also a broad altitudinal range, from 344 to 1674 m a.s.l. Although the species’ distribution spans important biogeographical barriers, such as the Asheville Depression, it includes several deep mitochondrial lineages that seem to be geographically restricted to particular areas delimited by that barrier and one formed by the Little Tennessee River ( Figs 1 View Fig , 18 View Fig ). This pattern is not common among other litter arthropods in this area ( Caterino & Recuero 2023; Recuero & Caterino 2024b, 2024c). This suggests an old presence and diversification within these mountains. See Remarks under Ligidium pacolet sp. nov. and L. whiteoak sp. nov. and Fig. 17 View Fig for diagnostic information.