Source: Wikipedia
| Apheloria virginiensis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Diplopoda |
| Order: | Polydesmida |
| Family: | Xystodesmidae |
| Genus: | Apheloria |
| Species: | A. virginiensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Apheloria virginiensis (Drury, 1770)
| |
Apheloria virginiensis, the Kentucky flat millipede,[1] 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.[1]
Apheloria virginiensis serves as a host to the parasitic fungus Arthrophaga myriapodina, which causes infected individuals to climb to an elevated spot before death.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Jamie Frater (2009). The Ultimate Book of Top Ten Lists: A Mind-Boggling Collection of Fun, Fascinating and Bizarre Facts on Movies, Music, Sports, Crime, Celebrities, History, Trivia and More. Ulysses Press. p. 472. ISBN 9781569757154.
- ^ 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.
External links[edit]
- "Apheloria virginiensis Drury, 1770". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- Images of Apheloria virginiensis - BugGuide
 | This myriapoda-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |