Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Order Polyxenida - Bristly Millipedes

brush milipede Millipede - Polyxenus Millipedes - Polyxenus Millipede - Polyxenus mystery class of arthropoda; collembola-like but with 4 or 5 leg pairs - Polyxenus Bristly millipede - Polyxenus Duff Millipede Beetle larva with Crematogaster ants - Polyxenus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Myriapoda (Myriapods)
Class Diplopoda (Millipedes)
Order Polyxenida (Bristly Millipedes)
Other Common Names
Pincushion Millipedes, Fuzzy Millipedes
Pronunciation
pol-ee-ZEE-nid-uh
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Ancyrotricha Cook 1895
Explanation of Names
Polyxenida Verhoeff 1934
Numbers
8 spp. in 3 genera of 2 families in our area. ~110 spp. in a dozen genera of 4 families total(1)
Size
≤4 mm
Identification
Soft-bodied with distinctive tufts of setae, ≤17 leg pairs. Polyxenidae usually have ocelli, 8th antennomere shorter than 7th; Lophoproctidae lack ocelli, 8th antennomere subequal or longer than 7th
Range
Worldwide. In the New World, so.Canada to Brazil(2)
Polyxenidae occur over much of the US (6 spp. of Polyxenus); Lophoproctidae, has been recorded in the Florida Keys and may occur in so.TX (at least 2 spp.)(1)
See Also
dermestid larvae
Print References
Short M., Vahtera V. (2017) Phylogenetic relationships of millipedes in the subclass Penicillata (Diplopoda) with a key to the genera. J. Nat. Hist. 51: 41‒42, 2443‒2461 (Full text)
Works Cited
1.Checklist of the millipeds of North and Middle America
Richard L. Hoffman. 1999. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publications.
2.Centipedes and Millipedes, with an Emphasis on North American Fauna
Rowland M. Shelley. 1999. Emporia State University.