Gloucestershire Naturalists' Society

Myriapod Report 2001 by David Scott-Langley

Millipedes

A somewhat restricted year for site access and consequently the number of records was down on the previous year at only 129, although these represented twenty-six species, two more than last year and included one new addition to the county list. The majority of the records came from gardens and meetings of the Gloucestershire Invertebrate Group, and I thank all those who passed on specimens and records during the year.

Brachychaeteuma melanops. Following on from my introduction to last year's report this is one of those obscure species that, until a couple of years ago, was considered to be a national rarity but recorders are finding it quite regularly nowadays and it was found at another five sites in the county in 2001.

Chordeuma proximum. This species is predominantly a woodland species, most often found under rotting logs on the ground. A survey of woodlands was curtailed by Foot & Mouth disease after only two sites had been studied, both of which had the species, suggesting that this is another that is more widespread than originally thought. Adult males are required for confirmation of identification and these only occur between January and May.

Cylindroiulus latestriatus. NEW COUNTY RECORD. This species is common around the British coast but when found inland it is usually associated with sandy soils and one of the few such sites in Gloucestershire is round Bromsberrow in the north-west of the county. Two males were found in a pitfall trap during a FWAG survey by R. Wilder and identified by myself This is another species that requires males for verification, as there is a very similar species, C. britannicus that is widespread in the county.

Cylindroiulus parisiorum. This is the third county record for this species. One was found in cavity detritus in an apple tree during a GIG orchard survey in October at Ashleworth, associated with C. britannicus.

Julus scandinavius. This is another species that favours sandy soils in woodland. Previously only recorded on the British Myriapod Group visit to the Forest of Dean in 1992 and a couple of times by Brian Cave in the same area, it was caught in a pitfall trap in the above mentioned FWAG survey at Bromsberrow.

Ommatoiulus sabulosus. Another coastal species sometimes found inland, again associated with sandy soil and again, caught in pitfall traps at Bromsberrow. This is only the third county record and the species seems to be restricted to this far northwestern part of the county. An easily recognisable species, it is quite large (for Britain) at 23-33 millimetres long, very dark brown overall with a distinctive brownish orange stripe running the length of the body on either side of the dorsal midline.

Polyxenus lagurus. At first sight this species could be confused with the Museum Beetle larva but the site and number of legs will give it away. This millipede is unlike any other in this country and is called the Bristly Millipede because it is covered in bristles from head to tail. It is small at only 2-3 millimetres and tends to live in colonies under bark flakes on conifer and deciduous tree trunks, under dead bark and under ivy. On dry days it can be found walking around on tree trunks and rocks and, like the rest of us, retreats into shelter when it rains. Often recorded from the county it has not been seen for about six years but turned up at a new site near Fairford in 2001 on a Corsican Pine trunk.

Centipedes

For the same reasons given above, records and variety of species were down on last year although there were several county rarities that were seen in 2001 or reported from previous years.

Strigamia acuminata. Nationally a widely distributed species and now being seen more in Gloucestershire. Recorded at another five sites in 2001, making twelve in all, mostly found in or under rotten logs on woodland floors.

Geophilus osquidatum. The distribution atlas of 1988 shows this species as a scarce, south-western animal, and the accompanying notes say that it should be looked for in gardens and similar sites anywhere southwest of Bristol. Gloucestershire had three old records and five modern records until 2001 when it was found at ten new sites in the county (as well as three others over in Oxfordshire). Is this another example of a species increasing its range because of global warming?

Geophilus insculptus. This species has a principally northern and eastern distribution, apparently replacing the above species along its northeastern boundary. It is widely recorded in East Gloucestershire (Vc33) but hardly ever seen in West Glos (Vc 34). G. insculptus was found at five sites in Vc33 and one site in Vc34 in 2001. Both this and the above species are usually found under stones or when digging in soil.

Cryptops anomalans. There were two records in 2001 for this largest species of its group. One was from a known colony near Chipping Campden and the other was the largest specimen I have seen (45mm) that was found by David Haigh in his garden in Cheltenham. This species is always found in gardens in this country and has jaws that are just strong enough to pierce skin although with no long-term effects.

Cryptops parisi. This smaller relative of the above is also usually found in gardens though a bit more frequently. It was found at two sites in 2001 but I would expect it to appear almost anywhere.

Lithobius pilicornis. Still only known in modern Gloucestershire from the centre of Cirencester, the colony is alive and well, judging by the numbers found in a compost heap near Coxwell Street in 2001.

Lithobius curtipes. This species is considered to be an ancient woodland indicator, widely but sparsely distributed in England. This record, only the 2nd county record, was of a specimen collected in 1999 by John Harper from Hilcot Wood during a GIG meeting.

Specimens are always welcome for identification and let us hope thal recording will be a little more widespread in 2002 than last year.

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