Cyanide
Guides
Apheloria
cherry millipedes, flat-backed millipedes
Apheloria is a genus of large, chemically defended millipedes in the family Xystodesmidae, distributed across eastern North America. These millipedes are notable for producing hydrogen cyanide and benzaldehyde as defensive secretions, which imparts a characteristic cherry or almond odor. The genus participates in Müllerian mimicry rings in the Appalachian Mountains, with species displaying highly variable aposematic coloration involving black backgrounds with contrasting yellow, orange, red, or white markings. Species-level identification requires examination of male gonopod morphology due to extensive color polymorphism and convergent color patterns among co-occurring species.
Apheloriini
cherry millipedes
Apheloriini is a tribe of large, colorful flat-backed millipedes endemic to the temperate forests of eastern North America. All species produce hydrogen cyanide as a chemical defense, which generates a characteristic cherry or almond odor from benzaldehyde byproducts. Members display bright aposematic coloration warning predators of their toxicity. The tribe includes seven genera, with greatest diversity concentrated in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Species in this tribe participate in Müllerian mimicry rings, resulting in extreme intraspecific variation in color patterns.
Pyromorpha caelebs
Pyromorpha caelebs is a species of moth in the family Zygaenidae, currently treated as a synonym of Pyromorpha dimidiata in major taxonomic databases. The species was described by Blanchard in 1972. Members of this genus are known as "leaf-skeletonizer moths" and participate in Müllerian mimicry complexes with net-winged beetles (family Lycidae).
Xystocheir dissecta taibona
Xystocheir dissecta taibona is a subspecies of flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae. It is a synonym of Xystocheir taibona and is known from California. Like other members of its genus, it produces cyanide as a chemical defense against predators. The subspecies is documented as prey for the specialized carabid beetle Promecognathus.