Brachoria plecta
The Natural Bridge Mimic Millipede
Paul Marek
Characteristics
Brachoria plecta individuals are about 44.1 mm long and 10.5 mm wide (females 43.8 X 10.5 mm). Color: 3-spotted yellow (2.5Y 8/12), medial metatergal spots light pinkish orange (7.5R 6/10).
Brachoria plecta genitalia - left male gonopodal acropodite (with setae removed): (Left) medial view and (Right) magnified apical view. © Paul Marek
Habitat
Brachoria plecta specimens were collected during the day (17:00) in a moist forest comprising hemlock, maple, oak, and birch trees. Individuals were found beneath layers of decomposing leaf material, predominately oak, about 60 m above (west) Upper Hood Branch. Other xystodesmids encountered sympatrically at this locality: Rudiloria guyandotta (coloration similar to B. plecta 3-spotted morph) and Apheloria virginiensis corrugata (coloration dissimilar to B. plecta banded yellow). Note: Individuals of B. plecta may be confused in the field with Rudiloria guyandotta due to similarity in color patterns.Distribution
Known only from the type locality in Powell Co., Kentucky. The closest known Brachoria species, B. indianae, occurs about 30 km southwest in Irvine, Estill Co., Kentucky.Conservation status
Brachoria plecta is threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture (especially growing demand for paper products), coal mining, development, and the invasion of exotic species.References
Marek P.E. 2010. A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae: Apheloriini). Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 159: 817-889.
Hoffman R.L. 1999. Checklist of the millipeds of North and Middle America. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publication. No. 8. Martinsville: Virginia Museum of Natural History.
Keeton W.T. 1959. A revision of the millipede genus Brachoria (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae) Proc. US Nat. Mus. 109: 1-58.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Brachoria plecta |
|---|---|
| Location | USA, Kentucky, Powell Co. |
| Reference | Marek P.E. 2010. A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae: Apheloriini). Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 159: 817-889. |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Sex | m |
| Life Cycle Stage | adult |
| View | dorsal |
| Collection | FMNH |
| Collector | Paul Marek |
| Image Use |
 This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
|
| Copyright |
© Paul Marek
|
About This Page
Work on the millipede Tree of Life pages was supported by a U.S. National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant to Paul Marek and Jason Bond (DEB 0607996) and a Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy Grant to Petra Sierwald, Jason Bond, and William Shear (DEB 0529715).
Paul Marek
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Paul Marek at
Page copyright © 2010 Paul Marek
Page: Tree of Life
Brachoria plecta . The Natural Bridge Mimic Millipede.
Authored by
Paul Marek.
The TEXT of this page is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media
featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available
for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the
relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and
redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright
Policies.
- First online 16 September 2010
- Content changed 16 September 2010
Citing this page:
Marek, Paul. 2010. Brachoria plecta . The Natural Bridge Mimic Millipede. Version 16 September 2010 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Brachoria_plecta/144231/2010.09.16 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
