---
title: "Black-and-gold Flat Millipede"
description: "Apheloria virginiensis — Weitere Tiere. Apheloria virginiensis is a species of flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/de/animal/black-and-gold-flat-millipede
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Black-and-gold Flat Millipede

> Apheloria virginiensis — Weitere Tiere. Apheloria virginiensis is a species of flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae.

- Scientific name: *Apheloria virginiensis*
- Category: `other` (Weitere Tiere)
- Habitats: `forest` (Wald)
- iNaturalist observations: 720
- Wikidata: [Q4779584](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4779584)
- iNaturalist taxon: [70419](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/70419)

## Names

- en: Black-and-gold Flat Millipede
- fr: Polydesme de Virginie

## Countries with the most observations

US (127)

## Summary

Apheloria virginiensis is a species of flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae. Also known as the Virginia cherry millipede, this species is found in Virginia and North Carolina. This millipede secretes hydrogen cyanide and benzaldehyde as a defense mechanism, and these compounds smell like cherries or almonds. Although this species secretes too little toxin to be hazardous to humans, authorities recommend washing hands after handling this millipede. Although this millipede is sometimes called the yellow and black flat millipede, this species also includes color patterns that feature pink or orange instead…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apheloria_virginiensis

## Photo

![Black-and-gold Flat Millipede](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/black-and-gold-flat-millipede/medium.jpg)

Photo: Michael Reynolds (UnidentifiableLifeform) · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28806894

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/black-and-gold-flat-millipede?lang=de` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).