Kings Mountain Milliped Fauna 
25 
gonopodal variants occurred, and there was no correlation between 
them. The length of the patch of terminal macrosetae and the configura- 
tion of m4 and el varied independently, and seem to be controlled by dif- 
ferent genes. 
These findings greatly expand current knowledge of variation for the 
species and illustrate the degree of variability that may occur within a 
local population. To Hoffman’s (1974) characterization of P. branneri 
may now be added the occasional appearance of a new process, the 
secondary el spine, the division of a single process into separate compo- 
nents, m4 lobe and shoulder, and the occasional loss of all terminal 
macrosetae. 
Hoffman (1974) described P. collinus as differing from P. branneri in 
the absence of m3 and either the absence or vestigial condition of el. In 
the Kings Mountain specimens, el and/or m3 were present on all 
specimens, although el varied considerably in size. Consequently, only 
one species, P. branneri, is represented by this material. 
Scytonotus granulatus (Say, 1821) 
Fig. 41 
This species was rare in the Kings Mountain region. Isolated brown 
adults were found in April and October, and white juveniles were taken 
in July. Both were found in moist humus. The widespread occurrence of 
the species in western North Carolina and several other states was noted 
by Hoffman (1962), and Shelley (1978) reported additional localities in 
eastern Piedmont North Carolina. 
Platyrhacidae 
Auturus erythropygos (Brandt, 1841) 
Figs. 42-46 
Adults of A. erythropygos exhibit striking body coloration, with each 
blue-gray metatergite bearing a bright orange middorsal spot and orange 
paranota. Juveniles, though lighter, have a similar pattern. All stages 
were collected from under bark of decaying deciduous logs, in humus un- 
der logs, or in associated bark litter. Both adults and juveniles were most 
abundant in October, but the species was quite common in April and 
July. 
Flattened, round molting chambers, built under the bark of logs in- 
habited by A. erythropygos, were observed on each collecting trip (Figs. 
45-46). They are constructed of cemented wood particles and provide 
protection from desiccation and predation during intermolts. The dimen- 
sions were proportional to the inhabitant’s size, the largest being 20-22 
mm diameter. An adult or juvenile accompanied by cast exuvium was 
