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apheloria.bsky.social
A central mission of our research is the exploration and description of biodiversity, especially Appalachian millipede species.
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Spider Biology Field Course!! from July 1 - 9, 2025 experience the outstanding biodiversity of spiders and non-spider arachnids found in montane southeastern AZ; taught by Greta Binford, Paula Cushing, & Marshal Hedin $946 for tuition, room & board. See www.amnh.org/research/sou... for details.

#NewSpecies! New millipede from #thailand just rolled in: Sphaerobelum petramurum Treatment: treatment.plazi.org/id/7F56B2A4-... Publication: doi.org/10.3897/zse.... #ZoosystematicsAndEvolution #SphaerobelumPetramurum #FAIRdata #science #biodiversity #nature #conservation #diplopoda #millipedes

The Beddau Beast (Cranogona dalensi) is a small off-white, winter-active millipede that is known (globally) only from the western Pyrenees and Cwm Tips, near Beddau. These individuals were seen at Cwm Tips yesterday. #millipedes #invertebrates #myriapoda #Wales #collieryspoil

Some of the coolest and perhaps most under-appreciated African carnivores are solifuges. The ferocity of these incredible arachnids, a.k.a. camel spiders or sun spiders, easily matches that of the wild dogs and, just like the canines, they can dismember their prey in a matter of seconds.

A flat-backed millipede cruising along though the rainforest. Their leg motion is mesmerizing. #inverts (Family Platyrhacidae) Cuyabeno Reserve, Ecuador

I enjoyed the lone, tiny myrmecophilic springtail in this one Citronella ants + mealybugs + springtail

and finally, if you wish to join us but ALSO want to spend less time thinking about dinosaurs and more time in the woods and advocating for nature research... we've got a position for you. Requires experience running a lab, field station, or nonprofit. us242.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePor...

Sophie Lutterlough researched #myriapods and #ticks after a career doing several jobs at the Smithsonian! siarchives.si.edu/blog/sophie-... #28DaysOfBlackSTEMHistory #BlackHistoryMonth

welcome to the world new spider genus Siskiyu. you've been lurking in the dark, magical woods of far northern California for millenia. Now the humans have finally gotten around to telling your story, at least in part this research was funded by the NSF OA here zookeys.pensoft.net/article/1402...

For #FossilFriday meet something of a rarity - a fossil centipede. Like last week's fossil, this is a macerate - the remains of an animal dissolved out of a rock using strong acid. The fossil, called Devonobius, is from NY state, and is around 385 million years old. Isn't it cool? 🤩 ⚒️🧪🦀🦑 #evosky

I just so happened to get a mosquito in this wide angle macro photograph of a cherry millipede, Apheloria virginiensis corrugata (Wood, 1864).

A short break from #BugoftheYear content to bring you Pauropods! These tiny relatives of millipedes possess unique branching antennae, and feed on fungi and organic matter. They’re found in leaf litter, soil, under stones and logs, but at <2 mm length you’ll struggle to spot them! #Invertebrate 🧪

a rare invert #FossilFriday because these Carboniferous millipedes are really cool

For #FossilFriday meet Archidesmus - this is a ~411 million year old fossil millipede. It's part of a broader group, the superorder Archipolypoda. Amongst other traits, these millipedes are recognised through their large ~compound eyes, and modified 8th leg pair used for reproduction. ⚒️🧪🦀🦑 #evosky

A new alkaloid chemical was recently discovered in the millipede Ischnocybe plicata Cook & Loomis, 1928. Named ischnocybine, it disorients ants and appears to bind to some neuroreceptors. Open access article by C. Menegatti and E. Mevers et al. here: doi.org/10.1021/acs....

Phyodesmus, a Bornean endemic genus of very large platyrhacid millipede. this one looked like an ambulatory spinal column

The nationally rare flat-backed #millipede Propolydesmus testaceus from woodland along the River Taf near Edwardsville, Merthyr Tydfil, today. Found by Christian Owen. @sewbrec.org.uk

Fun fact: the identity of the millipede on the right on this page wasn't known until recently--140 years later! Now known as Packardesmus cavicola www.mapress.com/zt/article/v...

I was happier to see this giant Narceus millipede in hill country yesterday than it was to see me. It curled into this defensive spiral and just sat there. Made a nice photo, though. With bonus mites, if you look closely.

Millepedehood is a spectrum

🎉 Happy California Millipede Season for those who celebrate it! 🌧️ As the rains come, we are starting to see fascinating millipede discoveries on @inaturalist.bsky.social, like these feather millipedes, Brachycybe producta Loomis, 1936 from Mount Tamalpais #MillipedeMonday

a little millipede diversity from one night in Sarawak: representatives from orders Polydesmida, Spirobolida, Platydesmida (?), and Sphaerotheriida

A troglomorphic millipede discovered in subterranean pitfall traps in the Appalachian Mountains. In a few months, our team will start these in California (Tulare, San Benito, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties). #MillipedeMonday #NCBIAccession PP979230 ecdysis.org/collections/...

For our first post here — a handsome millipede of the genus Platydesmus from Costa Rica. Its family Platydesmidae is differentiated from other families by its very widely spaced coxa. Colleagues recently described several new species of its relatives from Vietnam: t.co/ne1HhX6NOe #MillipedeMonday