A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
I'm an entomologist who helps people realize how much they love insects. I'm a Noah Ranger here, so let me know if you need anything.
Ohio
Sign In to followThis species does have chemical defenses, but they don't smell like maraschino cherries, usually that's attributed to millipedes in the family Xystodesmidae, such as Apheloria virginiensis corrugata, a millipede that occurs in your area. This millipede is Ohio's largest species, and its chemical defenses might stain your hand brown, but it won't harm you. Millipedes aren't venomous and can't even bite humans! Centipedes, on the other hand, are venomous.
Harpaphe haydeniana only occurs in the Pacific NW, and doesn't have those middorsal spots. This species is instead Sigmoria trimaculata.
It's not Auturus evides, but you're in the correct order. It looks like a Xystodesmid, but I'm not sure which. If you can collect anymore you see and send me the specimens, I could identify it based on the male genitalia. Keep your eye out for more!
The almond smell is cyanide that the millipede secretes in defense. Harmless to humans to smell it, but don't eat it.
Harpaphe haydeniana only occurs in the Pacific NW. In Ohio, we have Apheloria virginiensis corrugata, a common millipede in the leaf litter.
This is definitely not Polydesmus angustus. It is a representative of the family Euryuridae, probably Euryurus leachii.