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

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Calendar

Upcoming Events

National Moth Week was July 19-27, and the Summer 2025 gathering in Louisiana, July 19-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Family Xystodesmidae

Representative Images

Genus or species? - Apheloria tigana mystery catarpillar Millipede, Apheloria virginiensis Millipede with red markings - Sigmoria Juvenile Thrinaphe hargeri? isopod ID Apheloria virginiensis? - Apheloria virginiensis Apheloria virginiensis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Myriapoda (Myriapods)
Class Diplopoda (Millipedes)
Order Polydesmida (Flat-backed Millipedes)
Family Xystodesmidae

Pronunciation

"ZISS-toe-DES-mid-ee"

Explanation of Names

Xystodesmidae Cook 1895

Numbers

worldwide, 560 spp. in ~60 genera arranged into 13 tribes & 4 subfamilies(1)

Identification

18‒22 (usually 20) body rings and prominent keels. Eyes absent. The first pair of legs on the 7th ring are gonopods in males. Many are brightly colored; all have stink glands.(2)

Range

Northern Hemisphere, greatest diversity in the Appalachian region

Print References

(3)

Works Cited

1.Sierwald P., Spelda J. (2023) MilliBase
2.Spiders and Their Kin: A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press
Herbert W. Levi, Lorna R. Levi, Nicholas Strekalovsky. 2001. St. Martin's Press.
3.A Müllerian mimicry ring in Appalachian millipedes
Marek P.E., Bond J.E. 2009. PNAS 106: 9755–9760.
Contributed by Lynette Elliott on 30 June, 2006 - 7:36am
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Rowland Shelley, Vox Sciurorum, v belov, biosam
Last updated 31 October, 2023 - 7:19pm

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