Millipede & Centipede Identification Resources

 

Online and print resources for identifying Millipedes and centipedes

I often get asked if I have references for identifying millipedes and centipedes in [insert your location here]. I don’t mind it, but it’s time consuming to gather up scattered references for an area, and we will all die one day. In the interest of saving time, I’ve made this helpful page—a one-stop shop for your myriapod identification needs. If I directed you here after you contacted me, welcome!

This page is not an exhaustive list of every possible resource. It is mostly focused on eastern North America, and I’ve mainly included taxonomic revisions, identification keys, species catalogs, and useful summary papers, rather than papers describing new species without broader context. Much taxonomic information on millipedes and centipedes is found in the primary literature, which can be difficult to access. However, online resources have made accessing the literature much easier, especially through websites such as the Biodiversity Heritage Library and Google Scholar. If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend my Millipedes of Ohio field guide.

When references are available online, I’ve included direct links. If a reference isn’t available online, feel free to send me an email and I’ll be happy to send you a PDF.

General Online Resources:

Field Guides:

Checklists & Summary Information:

  • Bonato L, Edgecombe G, Lewis J, Minelli A, Pereira L, Shelley R, Zapparoli M (2010) A common terminology for the external anatomy of centipedes (Chilopoda). ZooKeys 69: 17–51. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.69.737

  • Blower JG (1985) Millipedes. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) 35. E. J. Brill, London, 242 pp.

  • Hoffman RL (1995) The centipeds (Chilopoda) of Virginia: a first list. Banisteria 5: 20–32. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/58632363

  • Hoffman RL (1999) Checklist of the millipedes of North and Middle America. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publication 8: 1–584.

  • Langor DW, deWaard JR, Snyder BA (2019) Myriapoda of Canada. ZooKeys 819: 169–186. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.819.29447

  • Langor DW, Langor SD (2022) The biota of Canada: checklist of the centipedes of Canada (Myriapoda: Chilopoda). The Canadian Entomologist 154: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2021.58

  • Means JC, Hennen DA, Tanabe T, Marek PE (2021) Phylogenetic systematics of the millipede family Xystodesmidae. Insect Systematics and Diversity 5: 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixab003

    See Supplementary Material 1 for a species catalog of the family Xystodesmidae.

  • Minelli A (2011) Treatise on Zoology - Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology. The Myriapoda, Volume 1 Treatise on Zoology - Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology. The Myriapoda, Volume 1. Brill, 538 pp.

  • Minelli A (2015) Treatise on Zoology - Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology. The Myriapoda, Volume 2 Treatise on Zoology - Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology. The Myriapoda, Volume 2. Brill, 482 pp.

  • Mercurio RJ (2010) An Annotated Catalog of Centipedes (Chilopoda) From the United States of America, Canada and Greenland (1758-2008). Xlibris, United States of America, 560 pp.

  • Nguyen D-JM, Geoffroy J-J (2003) A revised comprehensive checklist, relational database, and taxonomic system of reference for the bristly millipedes of the world (Diplopoda, Polyxenida). African Invertebrates 44: 89–101. https://doi.org/10.10520/EJC84512

  • Scheller U (2008) A reclassification of the Pauropoda (Myriapoda). International Journal of Myriapodology 1: 1–38. https://doi.org/10.1163/187525408X316730

  • Shelley RM (1988) The millipeds of eastern Canada (Arthropoda: Diplopoda). Canadian Journal of Zoology 66: 1638–1663. https://doi.org/10.1139/z88-239

  • Shelley RM (2000) Annotated checklist of the millipeds of North Carolina (Arthropoda: Diplopoda), with remarks on the genus Sigmoria Chamberlin (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae). Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 116: 177–205. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24335390

  • Shelley RM (2000) Annotated checklist of the millipeds of Florida (Arthropoda: Diplopoda). Insecta Mundi 14: 241–251. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/316/

  • Shelley RM (2002) Annotated checklist of the millipeds of California (Arthropoda: Diplopoda). Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist 1: 90–115. https://doi.org/10.3398/1545-0228-1.1.90

  • Snider RM (1991) Updated species lists and distribution records for the Diplopoda and Chilopoda of Michigan. Michigan Academician 24: 177–194.

  • Snyder BA (2008) A preliminary checklist of the millipedes (Diplopoda) of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Zootaxa 1856: 16–32. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1856.1.2

  • Watermolen DJ (1997) Updated checklist of Wisconsin Centipedes (Chilopoda). Wisconsin Entomological Society Special Publication 4: 1–6. https://www.wisentsoc.org/WI%20Centipedes-Watermolen1997.pdf

Collection Methods:

  • Means JC, Francis EA, Lane AA, Marek PE (2015) A general methodology for collecting and preserving xystodesmid and other large millipedes for biodiversity research. Biodiversity Data Journal 3: e5665. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.3.e5665

  • Owens BE, Carlton CE (2015) “Berlese vs. Winkler”: Comparison of Two Forest Litter Coleoptera Extraction Methods and the ECOLI (Extraction of Coleoptera in Litter) Protocol. The Coleopterists Bulletin 69: 645–661. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24773669

  • Snyder BA, Draney ML, Sierwald P (2006) Development of an optimal sampling protocol for millipedes (Diplopoda). Journal of Insect Conservation 10: 277–288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-006-6699-z

Keys and Other Identification Resources:

Diplopoda:

Polyxenida:

Polyzoniida:

  • Shelley RM (1998) The milliped family Polyzoniidae in North America, with a classification of the global fauna (Diplopoda Polyzoniida). Arthropoda Selecta 6: 3–34.

Platydesmida:

  • Shelley RM, McAllister CT, Tanabe T (2005) A synopsis of the milliped genus Brachycybe Wood, 1864 (Platydesmida: Andrognathidae). Fragmenta Faunistica 48: 137‑166. https://doi.org/10.3161/00159301FF2005.48.2.137

  • Shorter PL, Hennen DA, Marek PE (2018) Cryptic diversity in Andrognathus corticarius Cope, 1869 and description of a new Andrognathus species from New Mexico (Diplopoda, Platydesmida, Andrognathidae). ZooKeys 786: 19–41. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.786.27631

Callipodida:

  • Shelley RM (1979) A revision of the milliped genus Delophon with the proposal of two new tribes in the subfamily Abacioninae (Callipodida: Caspiopetalidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 92: 533–550. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35514250

  • Shelley RM (1983) A new milliped of the genus Delophon from Missisippi (Callipodida: Caspiopetalidae). Entomological News 94: 11–14. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2691531

  • Shelley RM (1984) A synopsis of the milliped genus Abacion Rafinesque (Callipodida: Caspiopetalidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology 62: 980–988. https://doi.org/10.1139/z84-137

  • Shelley RM (1989) The milliped genus Texophon Chamberlin and the new tribe Texophonini (Callipodida: Schizopetalidae). The Southwestern Naturalist 34: 381–391. https://doi.org/10.2307/3672167

  • Shelley RM, McAllister CT, Hollis JL (2003) A new milliped of the genus Abacion Rafinesque, 1820 from Arkansas, U. S. A. (Callipodida: Abacionidae). Zootaxa 170: 1–7. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.170.1.1

  • Shelley R, Richart C (2014) Tynommatidae, n. stat., a family of western North American millipeds: Hypotheses on origins and affinities; tribal elevations; rediagnoses of Diactis Loomis, 1937, and Florea and Caliactis, both Shelley, 1996; and description of D. hedini, n. sp. (Callipodida: Schizopetalidea). Insecta Mundi 0340: 1–19. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/845

Chordeumatida:

  • Hoffman RL (1961) Systematic and morphological notes on North American conotyloid Diplopoda. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 87: 259–272. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25077826

  • Shear WA (1971) The milliped family Conotylidae in North America, with a description of the new family Adritylidae (Diplopoda, Chordeumida). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 141: 55–97. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4753229

  • Shear WA (1972) Studies in the milliped order Chordeumida (Diplopoda): a revision of the family Cleidogonidae and a reclassification of the order Chordeumida in the New World. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 144: 151–352. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4227660

  • Shear WA (2003) The milliped family Trichopetalidae, Part 1: Introduction and genera Trigenotyla Causey, Nannopetalum n. gen., and Causeyella n. gen. (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida, Cleidogonoidea). Zootaxa 321: 1–36. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.321.1.1

  • Shear WA (2010) The milliped family Trichopetalidae, Part 2: The genera Trichopetalum, Zygonopus and Scoterpes (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida, Cleidogonoidea). Zootaxa 2385: 1–62. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2385.1.1

  • Shear WA, Marek PE (2019) Urochordeumatidae Silvestri, 1909, a millipede family endemic to Washington State, USA (Chordeumatida, Striariidea, Striarioidea). Zootaxa 4657: 352–360. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4657.2.7

Julida:

  • Causey NB (1974) The phylogeny of the family Paraiulidae Paraiuloidea. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London 32: 23–39.

  • Enghoff H, Shelley RM (1979) A revision of the millipede genus Nopoiulus (Diplopoda, Julida: Blaniulidae). Entomologica Scandinavica 10: 65–72.

  • Enghoff H (1979a) A new genus and species of the millipede family Nemasomatidae (Diplopoda, Julida). Steenstrupia 5: 149–159.

  • Enghoff H (1979b) The millipede genus Okeanobates (Diplopoda, Julida: Nemasomatidae). Steenstrupia 5: 161–178.

  • Enghoff H (1982) An extraordinary new genus of the millipede family Nemasomatidae (Diplopoda: Julida). Myriapodologica 1: 69–80.

  • Enghoff H (1985) The milliped family Nemasomatidae. With description of a new genus, and a revision of Orinisobates (Diplopoda: Julida). Entomologica Scandinavica 16: 27–67.

  • Enghoff H (1991) A revised cladistic analysis and classification of the millipede order Julida with establishment of four new families and description of a new nemasomatoid genus from Japan. Zeitschrift fuer zoologische Systematik und Evolutionsforschung 29: 241–263.

  • Hennen DA (2023) Key to families of the order Julida in North America. https://www.derekhennen.com/blog/2023/11/27/a-strange-julidan-millipede-okeanobates-hiding-right-in-front-of-me

  • Hoffman RL (1961) A new genus and subfamily of the diplopod family Nemasomatidae from the Pacific Northwest. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 63: 58–64. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16338831

  • Hoffman RL (1963) Taxonomic notes on some American Nemasomatid Diplopoda. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 89: 165–182. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25077858

  • McAllister CT, Shelley RM, Enghoff H, Ramsey ZD (2005) Distribution of the milliped Virgoiulus minutus (Brandt, 1841): first records from Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas (Julida: Blaniulidae). Western North American Naturalist 65: 258–266. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41717455

  • Shelley RM (1994) Revision of the milliped family Paeromopodidae, and elevation of the Aprosphylosomatinae to family status (Julida: Paeromopodoidea). Entomologica Scandinavica 25: 169–214.

  • Shelley RM & Bauer SB (1997) New records and species, and taxonomic alterations in the milliped family Paeromopodidae (Julida). Entomological News 108: 1-14. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16343521

  • Shelley RM (2000) Parajulid studies II. The subgenus Hakiulus Chamberlin (Julida: Parajulidae: Parajulinae: Aniulini). Myriapodologica 6: 121–145. https://www.vmnh.net/content/vmnh/uploads/PDFs/research_and_collections/myriapodologica/myriapodologica_v6_14.pdf

  • Shelley RM (2001) A synopsis of the milliped genus Aniulus Chamberlin (Julida: Parajulidae: Parajulinae: Aniulini). Texas Memorial Museum, Speleological Monographs 5: 73–94.

  • Shelley RM (2002) The milliped genus Oriulus Chamberlin (Julida: Parajulidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 100–109. https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/z01-205

  • Shelley RM, Smith J (2016) Parajulid milliped studies XII: Initial assessment of Ptyoiulus Cook 1895 and neotype designations for Julus impressus Say 1821 and J. montanus Cope 1869 (Diplopoda: Julida). Insecta Mundi 1027: 1–21. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/1027

Spirobolida:

Spirostreptida:

  • Loomis HF (1938) The cambaloid millipeds of the United States, including a family new to the fauna and new genera and species. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 86: 27–66.
    https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7569025

  • Hoffman RL (1958) Appalachian Cambalidae: Taxonomy and distribution (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida). Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 48: 90–94. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24533859

  • Shelley RM (1979) A synopsis of the milliped genus Cambala, with a description of C. minor Bollman (Spirostreptida: Cambalidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 92: 551–571. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35514268

Polydesmida:

Polydesmida - Xystodesmidae

Chilopoda:

Lithobiomorpha:

Geophilomorpha:

  • Bonato L, Dányi L, Socci AA, Minelli A (2012) Species diversity of Strigamia Gray, 1843 (Chilopoda: Linotaeniidae): a preliminary synthesis. Zootaxa 3593: 1–39. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3593.1.1

  • Chamberlin RV (1912) The Geophiloidea of the southeastern states. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 54: 405–436. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2815547

  • Cook OF, Collins GN (1891) Notes on some North American Myriapoda of the family Geophilidae with descriptions of three genera. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 13: 383–396. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15671147

  • Crabill RE (1950) On the true identity of Arctogeophilus fulvus (Wood), with some remarks concerning the status of Mecistocephalus melanonotus Wood (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae). The Canadian Entomologist 82: 253–256. https://doi.org/10.4039/Ent82253-12

  • Crabill RE (1953a) The Schendylidae of northeastern North America (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Schendylidae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 61: 93–98. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25005492

  • Crabill RE (1953b) A new Himantariid from the eastern United States (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Himantariidae). Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 48: 85–88. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50583394

  • Crabill RE (1954a) Concerning the true identity of Strigamia fulva Sager and Strigamia bothriopa Wood (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Dignathodontidae). Entomological News 65: 40–46. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2563549

  • Crabill RE (1954b) A conspectus of the northeastern North American species of Geophilus (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha, Geophilidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 56: 172–188. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16179233

  • Crabill RE (1958) A new schendylid from the eastern United States with notes on distribution and morphology (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Schendylidae). Entomological News 69: 153–160. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/10395

  • Crabill RE (1959a) A new Floridan Pectiniunguis, with re-appraisal of its type species and comments on the status of Adenoschendyla and Litoschendyla (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Schendylidae). Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 49: 324–330. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24534757

  • Crabill RE (1959b) A synonymical list of American Himantariidae, with a generic key and description of a new genus (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Himantariidae). Entomological News 70: 117–126, 153–159. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2729190

  • Crabill RE (1959c) Notes on Mecistocephalus in the Americas, with a redescription of Mecistocephalus guildingii Newport (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Mecistocephalidae). Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 49: 188–192. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24534727

  • Crabill RE (1960) On the identity of Stenophilus grenadae (Chamberlin) with a key to the known North American congeners (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Himantariidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 73: 87–94. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34642080

  • Crabill RE (1961a) A catalogue of the Schendylinae of North America including Mexico, with a generic key and proposal of a new Simoporus (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Schendylinae). Entomological News 72: 29–36, 67–80. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2666401

  • Crabill RE (1961b) Concerning the identities of Nannocrix and Sogona, with pertinent morphological notes (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Sogonidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 63: 125–135. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16338902

  • Crabill RE (1968a) Concerning the true identities of Gosiphilus and Chomatobius, with redescription of the latter’s type-species (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Himantariidae). Entomological News 79: 108–112. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16343261

  • Crabill RE (1968b) On the true identity of Chomatophilus with description of a new species, and with key and catalogue of all sogonid genera (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Sogonidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 70: 323–331. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16262340

  • Crabill RE (1969) Review of Arenophilus and key to all species. Entomological News 80: 7–11. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2740402

  • Hennen DA (2023) Geophilus (Geophilidae) in western Virginia. https://www.derekhennen.com/blog/2023/1/25/wintertime-geophilus

  • Hoffman RL, Pereira LA (1991) Systematics and biogeography of Marsikomerus Attems, 1938, a misunderstood genus of centipedes (Geophilomorpha: Schendylidae). Insecta Mundi. Available from: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/406.

  • Iorio É, Bonato L (2024) A new species of the rare genus Endogeophilus from southern France, with a key to the European genera of Geophilidae s.l. (Chilopoda). Zookeys 1213: 199–224. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1213.133171

    • Includes a key to the European geophilid genera, useful as a reference for introduced species and for its reference to a number of anatomical structures useful for identification.

  • Pereira LA, Hoffman RL (1993) The American species of Escaryus, a genus of Holarctic centipeds (Geophilomorpha: Schendylidae). Jeffersoniana 3: 1–72. https://www.vmnh.net/content/vmnh/uploads/PDFs/research_and_collections/jeffersoniana/jeffersoniana_number_3.pdf

  • Pereira LA (2009) A new dwarf species of the genus Strigamia Gray, 1843 from the southern Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Linotaeniidae). Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publication 16: 209–222.

Scolopendromorpha:

  • Schileyko AA, Vahtera V, Edgecombe GD (2020) An overview of the extant genera and subgenera of the order Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda): a new identification key and updated diagnoses. Zootaxa 4825: 1–64. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4825.1.1

  • Shelley RM (2002) A synopsis of the North American centipedes of the order Scolopendromorpha (Chilopoda). Virginia Museum of Natural History Memoir 5: 1–108.

Last update: 28 October 2024