Abstract
Mitocybe auriportae Cook and Loomis, 1928, is a thread-like, densely pubescent andrognathid milliped that lacks exoskeletal ornamentations and is equivalent in size to the veins in decaying leaves. Its anterior gonopods are dominated by a broad, subtriangular sternum; the falcate ultimate podomere arises subterminally and is directed ventrolaterad. The species is known from a single collection 91 years ago in Marin County, California; I report a new locality in Santa Cruz County and redescribe and illustrate somatic and gonopodal features. Mitocybe Cook and Loomis, 1928, is monotypic; a new species from Guerrero, Mexico, reported 30 years ago, is still undescribed and, from geographical proximity, probably referrable to Andrognathus Cope, 1869. Somatic features of these genera are contrasted. The taxonomy of Platydesmida is uncertain because it is based on somatic, rather than gonopodal, features and because Brachycybe Wood, 1864, bridges the anatomical gap between the two component families. The family-group name, Mitocybeini Hoffman, 1980, is available to accommodate Mitocybe. In situ SEM examinations of colobognath gonopods do not show details of the anterior gonopod sternum, and studies on dissected gonopods are recommended.References
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