Centipedes and Millipedes
These two groups, the Chilopoda and Diplopoda, are often treated together, collectively known as the
Myriapoda. They are. however, not closely related. Centipedes are a very active predatory group of
invertebrates whilst millipedes are herbivorous. There are structural differences between the two
groups. Millipedes have what appears to be two pairs of legs per segment, whilst centipedes have
only one. Both groups tend to be found in moist situations in leaf litter, under logs, under bark and
sometimes under discarded debris on the margins of the Forest. I have only found Lithobius melanops
once in an old decaying Grey Squirrel drey in an Oak tree in Lords Bushes. The group has been little
studied in the Forest and with the exception of two species all the records below are from Lords
Bushes. The exceptions are Glomeris marginata recorded from Warren Hill and the Lower Forest
and Polyxenus lagurus which is an unlocated Forest record (EN XXII p.254) made in about 1930.
Lithobius forficatus, of all the species listed below, is the best known and, apart from being found in
Lords Bushes, appears to be widespread in the Forest. The records below, with the exception of P.
lagurus, were made in the years 1976-85.
Reference
Hanson. M. W. (1983) Lords Bushes- the history and ecology of an Epping Forest woodland. Essex Naturalist (N.S.) No. 7 p. 48.
Chilopoda
Cryptops hortensis (Leachi
Haplophilus subterraneus (Shaw)
Lithobius forficatus (L.)
melanops (Newport)
Necrophloeophagus longicornis (Leachi
Diplopoda
Blaniulus guttulatus (Bosc)
Cylindroiulus punctatus (Leachi
Glomeris marginata (Villers)
Ophyiulus pilosus (Newport)
Polydesmus angustatus (Latzel)
Polyxenus lagurus (L.)
Proteroiulus discus (Am Stein)
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