Cyanogenic
Guides
Apheloria virginiensis reducta
Yellow-and-black millipede, Cyanide millipede
A large, colorful millipede in the family Xystodesmidae, distinguished by its black body with bright yellow or orange wedge-shaped posterolateral markings. Like other members of its genus, it produces hydrogen cyanide as a chemical defense, advertised by its conspicuous aposematic coloration. The subspecies represents a western population of A. virginiensis, with records extending from the Appalachian region through the Ozark Plateau to the Arkansas Delta.
Boraria infesta
Boraria infesta is a species of flat-backed millipede in the family 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 predators of their toxicity. The species is part of a genus closely related to other cyanide-producing millipedes including Apheloria and Pleuroloma.
Boraria stricta
Boraria stricta is a flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae, characterized by its dorsoventrally flattened body form typical of the order Polydesmida. The species is native to North America and belongs to a genus known for aposematic coloration warning of chemical defenses. Like other xystodesmid millipedes, it possesses paranota—lateral extensions of body segments that contribute to its flattened appearance.
Procridinae
Forester Moths
Procridinae is a subfamily of Zygaenidae moths commonly known as foresters. All Australian species belong to this subfamily, which includes diurnal moths with aposematic coloration and chemical defense capabilities. The group is taxonomically challenging, with genital examination often required for species identification in Europe. Members exhibit specialized herbivory with documented host plant associations including Hibbertia (Dilleniaceae) and Achillea (Asteraceae).
Pryeria
Pryeria is a genus of zygaenid moths native to southeastern Asia, with three described species. The genus gained attention when Pryeria sinica was discovered in Virginia and Maryland in 2002, representing a new invasive pest of ornamental Euonymus shrubs in North America. The larvae are gregarious feeders that create distinctive marginal notches on leaves.
Pryeria sinica
euonymus leaf notcher, euonymus defoliator moth
Pryeria sinica is a univoltine zygaenid moth native to East Asia, introduced to the United States in 2002 where it has established populations in Maryland and Virginia. The species is a specialist herbivore of Celastraceae, particularly Euonymus species, where larvae feed gregariously and create distinctive marginal notches on leaves. Adults are diurnal wasp mimics with clear wings and aposematic coloration. The species has been reported more recently in the United Kingdom.
Sigmoria nantahalae
Nantahala Cherry Millipede
Sigmoria nantahalae is a species of flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae, first described by Hoffman in 1958. It is endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains of North America, with confirmed records from North Carolina. The species belongs to the tribe Apheloriini, a group known for producing hydrogen cyanide as a defensive secretion.