Leaf-litter-decomposer
Guides
Apheloria virginiensis
Virginia cherry millipede, black-and-gold flat millipede, yellow and black flat millipede
Apheloria virginiensis is a large flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae, notable as the first myriapod described from North America in 1770. Adults range from 27–59 mm in length and exhibit striking aposematic coloration, typically black with yellow, pink, or orange spots on the paranota. This species secretes hydrogen cyanide and benzaldehyde as a chemical defense, producing a characteristic cherry or almond odor. It inhabits mesic deciduous and mixed forests in the piedmont and coastal plain regions of Virginia and North Carolina, where it contributes to leaf litter decomposition.