Brachoria hoffmani
Hoffman’s Mimic Millipede
Paul Marek
Characteristics
Brachoria hoffmani individuals are about 45.6 mm long and 10.6 mm wide (females 46.37 mm X 11.0 mm). Color: Striped yellow (1.25Y 8/14 – 2.5Y 8/14, shown above) or orange; 3-spotted yellow or orange; and combined striped/3-spotted yellow.
Brachoria hoffmani genitalia - left male gonopodal acropodite (with setae removed): (Left) medial view and (Right) magnified apical view. © Paul Marek
Brachoria hoffmani, combined striped/3-spotted yellow color morph. © Paul Marek
Habitat
Brachoria hoffmani individuals have been collected in Appalachian mixed mesophytic deciduous forests comprising predominately maple, tulip poplar, and oaks (Vansant and Norton localities). However, I frequently encounter them in damp rhododendron cove habitats. Individuals from Breaks Interstate Park (Geology Tr. and Cold Spring Tr.) were collected during the day, 9:00 – 10:00, in moist rhododendron, birch, and hemlock forests in close proximity to streams. Individuals were found beneath layers of decomposing leaf material on spongy porous humus. Other xystodesmids encountered sympatrically at these localities are: Pleuroloma flavipes, Apheloria virginiensis corrugata, B. cedra, B. dentata, and B. insolita. Note: Individuals of B. hoffmani may be confused in the field with all of the abovementioned species due to similarity in color patterns.Distribution
Brachoria hoffmani is known from about seven localities in Wise, Norton City, Dickenson, and Buchanan counties in Virginia and Pike County in eastern Kentucky. Brachoria hoffmani occurs in the Cumberland Mountain section of Virginia, from Wise County northeast to Buchanan County, and Kentucky in Pike County. Brachoria hoffmani co-occurs with B. cedra, B. dentata, and B. insolita forming a component of a Müllerian mimicry ring with them.Conservation status
Brachoria hoffmani is threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture (especially growing demand for paper products), coal mining, development, and the invasion of exotic species.References
Marek P.E. 2010. A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae: Apheloriini). Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 159: 817-889.
Keeton W.T. 1959. A revision of the millipede genus Brachoria (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae) Proc. US Nat. Mus. 109: 1-58.
Hoffman R.L. 1999. Checklist of the millipeds of North and Middle America. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publication. No. 8. Martinsville: Virginia Museum of Natural History.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Brachoria hoffmani |
|---|---|
| Location | USA, Virginia, Dickenson Co. |
| Reference | Marek P.E. 2010. A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae: Apheloriini). Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 159: 817-889. |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Sex | m |
| Life Cycle Stage | adult |
| View | dorsal |
| Collection | FMNH |
| Collector | Paul Marek |
| Image Use |
 This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
|
| Copyright |
© Paul Marek
|
| Scientific Name | Brachoria hoffmani |
|---|---|
| Location | USA, Virginia, Wise Co. |
| Reference | Marek P.E. 2010. A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae: Apheloriini). Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 159: 817-889. |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Sex | m |
| Life Cycle Stage | adult |
| View | dorsal |
| Collection | FMNH |
| Collector | Paul Marek |
| Image Use |
This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
|
| Copyright |
© Paul Marek
|
About This Page
Work on the millipede Tree of Life pages was supported by a U.S. National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant to Paul Marek and Jason Bond (DEB 0607996) and a Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy Grant to Petra Sierwald, Jason Bond, and William Shear (DEB 0529715).
Paul Marek
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Paul Marek at
Page copyright © 2010 Paul Marek
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Brachoria hoffmani . Hoffman’s Mimic Millipede.
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- First online 16 September 2010
- Content changed 16 September 2010
Citing this page:
Marek, Paul. 2010. Brachoria hoffmani . Hoffman’s Mimic Millipede. Version 16 September 2010 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Brachoria_hoffmani/144221/2010.09.16 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
