Diamondback soil centipede

Geophilus vittatus, also known as the diamondback soil centipede,[2] is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae widespread in North America[3] and named for the dark band of diamond-shaped markings across its back. G. vittatus grows up to 52 millimeters in length, though it averages 25–40, and ranges from brown- to orange-yellow in color, with 49–53 leg pairs in females, 49–51 leg pairs in males, and a lack of consolidated carpophagus structures. It can be found under any debris on the forest floor, but mostly under loose bark[4] and occasionally near the sea.[5]

Diamondback soil centipede
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Geophilidae
Genus: Geophilus
Species:
G. vittatus
Binomial name
Geophilus vittatus
Synonyms[1]
  • G. cephalicus Wood, 1862
  • G. deducens Chamberlin, 1909
  • G. laevis Wood, 1862
  • G. rubens Say, 1821

Taxonomy

G. rubens' (Say, 1821) synonymy with G. vittatus was proved by Hoffman & Crabill (1953), and was originally very likely based on a specimen of Strigamia bidens.[6]

Behavior

When threatened, G. vittatus will secrete poisons from its underside.[2] The secretion is proteinaceous and contains two cyanogenetic compounds, mandelonitrile and benzoyl cyanide, as well as two products derived from these compounds as a result of hydrogen cyanide production (benzaldehyde and benzoic acid). Benzoyl cyanide has not been previously recorded from a natural source.[7]

References
  1. "Geophilus vittatus (Rafinesque,1820)". ChiloBase 2.0. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  2. "Species Geophilus vittatus - Diamondback Soil Centipede". BugGuide. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  3. "Geophilus vittatus (Rafinesque, 1820)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  4. Crabill, Ralph E. (1954). "A conspectus of the northeastern North American species of Geophilus (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Geophilidae)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 56: 172–188. Retrieved 10 November 2021 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. Barber, A.D (2009). "Littoral myriapods: a review" (PDF). Soil Organisms. 81 (3): 735–760. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  6. Hoffman, Richard L. (1995). The Centipedes (Chilopoda) of Virginia: A First List (PDF) (Number 5 ed.). Martinsville, Virginia: Banisteria - Virginia Museum of Natural History. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  7. Jones, Tappey H.; Conner, William E.; Meinwald, Jerrold; Eisner, Hans E.; Eisner, Thomas (1976). "Benzoyl cyanide and mandelonitrile in the cyanogenetic secretion of a centipede". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 2 (4): 421–429. doi:10.1007/BF00988807. S2CID 20051462. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
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