Boraria infesta

(Chamberlin, 1918)

Boraria infesta is a of flat-backed millipede in the Xystodesmidae, native to southeastern North America. It belongs to a group of polydesmidan millipedes that produce hydrogen cyanide as a chemical defense and display aposematic coloration warning of their . The species is part of a closely related to other cyanide-producing millipedes including Apheloria and Pleuroloma.

Boraria infesta 117171582 (cropped) by KB DiAngelo. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Boraria infesta 117171582 by KB DiAngelo. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Boraria infesta: /bɔˈraː.ri.a ɪnˈfɛs.ta/

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Identification

Boraria infesta can be distinguished from similar xystodesmid millipedes by its specific color pattern and geographic range. Related such as Apheloria, Pleuroloma, and Cherokia share similar aposematic coloration with yellow markings on dark backgrounds, but differ in subtle morphological features of the paranota and . The has been historically confused with other in the complex; specimens from Missouri and surrounding regions require careful examination to separate from Pleuroloma flavipes and Apheloria virginiensis reducta.

Images

Distribution

Southeastern United States, with records from Missouri and surrounding regions west of the Mississippi River.

Similar Taxa

Pleuroloma flavipesShares similar aposematic coloration with yellow markings on dark background, flat-backed body form with expanded paranota, and hydrogen cyanide defense. Occurs in overlapping range in Missouri and can be difficult to distinguish from B. infesta without close examination.
Apheloria virginiensis reductaClosely related xystodesmid with nearly identical color pattern and defensive chemistry. Occurs in same geographic region and has been noted as potentially confusable with B. infesta based on photographic records.
Cherokia georgianaRelated polydesmidan in the same with similar warning coloration and cyanide-based chemical defense, though generally distinguishable by specific pattern elements.