Crested Millipedes have grooves and ridges, setting them apart from the more well-known 'armored' millipedes found under rocks and stones.
Millipedes have a pair of legs on either side of their body segments. Though the density is high, millipedes have far fewer than 1,000 legs. This particular genus has brown legs and a brown body. The brown may be darker in some species and lighter in others. The number of body segments can range between 40-60. What all Crested Millipedes share, though, are crests, or raised areas, on their segments which are followed by grooves. This creates a bumpy, textured body that looks a lot less like armor plating and more like leather.
Many millipedes are known to produce chemicals that are off-putting and help deter predators. Gently touching one may release faint or strong traces of the chemical depending on the millipede. This genus has this aromatic capability and the substance it secretes is p-cresol, a derivative of phenol. A behavioral defense the millipede often employs is curling up, which tucks in vulnerable body parts. Look for Crested Millipedes under leaf litter, rocks, and wood.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Diplopoda
Order:Callipodida
Family:Abacionidae
Genus:Abacion
Species:spp.
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Abacion spp.
Category:
Millipede
Colors: brown
Descriptors: worm-like; ridges; many legs; red stripe
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.
Colors: brown
