Geophilus varians explained

Geophilus varians is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae found in North America,^[1] particularly from South Carolina to Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.^[2] It grows up to 40 millimeters, though it averages 30–35, ranges in color from light faded orange to yellow or whitish yellow with a deeper and brighter head,^[3] and has 53–59 leg pairs in males and 55–61 in females, as well as a complete lack of consolidated paxilli and sacculi (sensory organs in the antennae of certain insects), concealed prebasal plate, and unusually long ultimate legs.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Geophilus varians McNeill, 1887 . Integrated Taxonomic Information System . 11 November 2021.
2. Book: Hoffman . Richard L. . The Centipedes (Chilopoda) of Virginia: A First List . 1995 . Banisteria - Virginia Museum of Natural History . Martinsville, Virginia . 4–5 . Number 5 . 10 November 2021.
3. McNeill . Jerome . Description of twelve new species of Myriapod, chiefly from Indiana . Proceedings of the United States National Museum . 1887 . 10 . 328–334 . 10 November 2021.
4. Crabill . Ralph E. . 1954 . A conspectus of the northeastern North American species of Geophilus (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Geophilidae) . Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington . 56 . 172–188 . 6 November 2021 . Biodiversity Heritage Library.