Myriapods of North Carolina
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Sole representative of Spirobolidae in NC
98 NC Records

Narceus americanus (Palisot de Beauvouis, 1817) - American Giant Millipede

Narceus americanusNarceus americanus
Taxonomy
Class: Diplopoda (Millipedes)Order: Spirobolida Family: Spirobolidae Checklist Number: 524.000
Species Status: Narceus americanus is currently regarded as a species complex, composed of several genetic lineages, four of which have been identified in North Carolina (see Walker et al., 2009). Populations in the Southern Appalachians, in particular, appear to be the oldest group and are genetically quite distinct from those found over the rest of the state. Piedmont and Outer Coastal Plain populations also appear to represent well-separated haplotypes although they are closer to one another than they are to the Southern Appalachian clade. The identity of Narceus annularis now appears to be uncertain (see Filka and Shelley, 1980) and we have added the records for that species to the americanus complex.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, GBIF                                                                                 
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: "Common in moist humus and is occasionally found under the bark of decaying logs"" (Shelley, 1978). This species can be abundant in bottomland hardwoods and also occurs on mesic hardwood slopes."
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S4S5
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Narceus americanus - American Giant Millipede

Photos: 17

Narceus americanusRecorded by: R. Miller on 2024-08-09
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Narceus americanusRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-05
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Narceus americanusRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-05
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Narceus americanusRecorded by: K. Sanford on 2021-09-27
Gates Co.
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Narceus americanusRecorded by: C Tingley on 2021-08-05
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Narceus americanusRecorded by: J. Summers on 2018-06-29
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Narceus americanusRecorded by: Steve Hall on 2017-06-07
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Narceus americanusRecorded by: L. Appling on 2015-05-23
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Narceus americanusRecorded by: K.Trotter on 2015-05-11
Stanly Co.
Comment: 		Narceus americanusRecorded by: j.wyche on 2013-08-27
Gates Co.
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Narceus americanusRecorded by: J. Mickey on 2013-06-04
Wilkes Co.
Comment: 		Narceus americanusRecorded by: J. Mickey on 2013-05-28
Wilkes Co.
Comment:
Narceus americanusRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2010-08-19
Beaufort Co.
Comment: 		Narceus americanusRecorded by: K. Bischof, M. Smith on 2009-09-10
Beaufort Co.
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Narceus americanusRecorded by: K. Bischof, M. Smith on 2009-09-09
Beaufort Co.
Comment: 		Narceus americanusRecorded by: B. Anderson on 2008-08-11
Wake Co.
Comment:
Narceus americanusRecorded by: J. Shimel on 2006-04-25
New Hanover Co.
Comment: