Apheloria virginiensis

Apheloria virginiensis is a large North American millipede. It is reported to secrete cyanide compounds as a defense. It is recommended that one wash hands after handling this organism as the toxic compounds it secretes are poisonous and can cause extreme irritation if rubbed in the eyes.

Apheloria virginiensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Diplopoda
Order: Polydesmida
Family: Xystodesmidae
Genus: Apheloria
Species:
A. virginiensis
Binomial name
Apheloria virginiensis
(Drury, 1770)

Apheloria virginiensis serves as a host to the parasitic fungus Arthrophaga myriapodina, which causes infected individuals to climb to an elevated spot before death.[1]

  • "Apheloria virginiensis Drury, 1770". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  • Images of Apheloria virginiensis - BugGuide

References

  1. Hodge, Kathie T.; Hajek, Ann E.; Gryganskyi, Andrii (2017). "The first entomophthoralean killing millipedes, Arthrophaga myriapodina n. gen. n. sp., causes climbing before host death". Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 149: 135–140. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2017.08.011. PMID 28803979.


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