Narceus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Diplopoda
Order: Spirobolida
Family: Spirobolidae
Genus: Narceus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Narceus: /ˈnɑːr.siː.ʊs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Narceus americanus (Spirobolidae) - (imago), New York State (NY), United States by

This image is created by user B. Schoenmakers at Observation.org, a global biodiversity recording project.
. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Millipede - Narceus americanus annularis complex, Government Island, Stafford, Virginia (28050832199) by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

American Giant Millipede (Spirobolidae, Narceus americanus-annularis complex) (30891564696) by Insects Unlocked
. Used under a CC0 license.

Narceus Gordanus millipede in defensive spiral by Anonymoose XVI. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Narceus gordanus by Andrew C. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Millipedes eating a strawberry by Anonymoose XVI. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Narceus americanus is a large, detritivorous millipede inhabiting eastern North America, notable for its cylindrical gray body and potential to release a mild irritant when threatened. It exhibits unique behaviors related to hydration and burrowing, and has a distinctive reproductive process involving a single egg.

Physical Characteristics

A large millipede with a nearly cylindrical gray body, reaching lengths of 4 inches (100 mm).

Identification Tips

Common names include American giant millipede, worm millipede, and iron worm.

Habitat

Inhabits the eastern seaboard of North America, found under decaying logs in humid environments.

Distribution

Eastern North America, west to Georgetown, Texas, and north of the Ottine wetlands.

Diet

Detritivores feeding primarily on decaying wood, leaf litter, deer scat, and fresh fruit.

Life Cycle

Mating occurs in spring to early summer; females lay one egg which hatches after several weeks into a juvenile with seven body segments and three leg pairs.

Reproduction

Males transfer sperm via spermatophore; females store sperm and lay a single egg in a nest made of chewed leaf litter and excrement.

Predators

Susceptible to predation by unidentified organisms that eat the head and first few segments, likely voles and eastern towhee.

Ecosystem Role

Important in decomposition due to their detritivorous diet, recycling nutrients in their habitat.

Health Concerns

When threatened, they can release a noxious liquid causing mild skin irritation and temporary discoloration known as millipede burn. Claims of hydrogen cyanide release are unsubstantiated.

Collecting Methods

Hand collection from under logs or leaf litter

Preservation Methods

Ethanol preservation
Freezing

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Often confused with species that secrete hydrogen cyanide; N. americanus does not release this compound but may cause mild irritation through other secretions.