Brachoria insolita
The High Knob Mimic Millipede
Paul Marek
Characteristics
Brachoria insolita individuals are about 42.1 mm long and 9.3 mm wide (females 45.3 mm X 10.6 mm). Color: 3-spotted yellow (shown above), orange (rare) or red (rare).
Brachoria insolita genitalia - left male gonopodal acropodite (with setae removed): (Left) medial view and (Right) magnified apical view. © Paul Marek
Brachoria insolita, 3-spotted red color morph. © Paul Marek
Habitat
Brachoria insolita individuals have been collected in Appalachian mixed mesophytic deciduous forests comprising predominately maple and tulip poplars. Individuals were found beneath layers of decomposing leaf material. Many other xystodesmids co-occur with B. insolita. Note: Individuals of B. insolita may easily be confused in the field with Apheloria virginiensis corrugata, B. cedra, B. dentata and B. hoffmani due to similarity in color patterns (around High Knob all of these species can be found as mimics).Distribution
Brachoria insolita is only known from about five localities in two counties in Virginia, Norton City and Wise. Brachoria insolita occurs in the Stone Mountain highlands where it co-occurs with B. cedra, B. dentata, and B. hoffmani forming a component of a Müllerian mimicry ring with them.Conservation status
Brachoria insolita 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 insolita |
|---|---|
| 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.
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| Copyright |
© Paul Marek
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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 insolita . The High Knob Mimic Millipede.
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- First online 16 September 2010
- Content changed 16 September 2010
Citing this page:
Marek, Paul. 2010. Brachoria insolita . The High Knob Mimic Millipede. Version 16 September 2010 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Brachoria_insolita/144225/2010.09.16 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
