Bug FAQXystocheir dissecta
Xystocheir dissecta · Order: Polydesmida · Family: Xystodesmidae
Xystocheir dissecta is a flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae. It lives along the coast of northern California. When threatened it can release hydrogen cyanide gas.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
If threatened, it can release hydrogen cyanide gas, which may irritate skin, eyes or respiratory passages.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range is the coastal region of northern California.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 2 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Oregon.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: endemic in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Same family (Xystodesmidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xystocheir_dissecta
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.