''Harpaphe'' is a genus of

flat-backed millipede Polydesmida (from the Greek ''poly'' "many" and ''desmos'' "bond") is the largest order of millipedes, containing approximately 3,500 species, including all the millipedes reported to produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Description Members of the o ...

s native to the

Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Though ...

of North America. The genus contains three described species: two occurring only in northern California, and one with a large range extending from Southeast Alaska to Central California.

Species

Harpaphe haydeniana ''Harpaphe haydeniana,'' commonly known as the yellow-spotted millipede, almond-scented millipede or cyanide millipede, is a species of polydesmidan ("flat-backed") millipede found in the moist forests along the Pacific coast of North America, fr ...

'', the widest-ranging species, is divided into six

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

distinguished by geography and subtle differences in color and morphology. ''H. hayedniana'' spans the range of ''Harpaphe'', occurring from Monterey County, California to

Southeast Alaska Southeast Alaska, colloquially referred to as the Alaska(n) Panhandle, is the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Alaska, bordered to the east and north by the northern half of the Canadian province of British Columbia (and a small part ...

. ''

Harpaphe pottera ''Harpaphe'' is a genus of flat-backed millipedes native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. The genus contains three described species: two occurring only in northern California, and one with a large range extending from Southeast Alaska ...

'' occurs in Mendocino and Humboldt counties in northern California, while ''

Harpaphe telodonta ''Harpaphe'' is a genus of flat-backed millipedes native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. The genus contains three described species: two occurring only in northern California, and one with a large range extending from Southeast Alaska ...

'' occurs in Humboldt and Del Norte counties, California.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18510919 Polydesmida Millipedes of North America Fauna of the Northwestern United States