Myriapoda: a review of their status in Essex
Figure 1. Coverage of tetrads, number of species recorded
The species recorded in Essex
Nomenclature follows Blower (1985) for millipedes and Barber & Kcay (1988) for centipedes.
Class Diplopoda (millipedes)
Order POLYXENIDA: Bristly Millipedes
Family Polyxenidae
Polyxenus lagurus (Linnaeus)
This bristly millipede is noted for North Essex in the British Myriapod Group 1988 national atlas
and there are records plotted for the 10km squares TL93, TM03 and TM13 which cover both Essex
and Suffolk. There is an unlocalised record for Epping Forest made in about 1930, which is noted in
Hanson (1992). The millipede is widely distributed in Britain, but local. It is often found under bark
of dead trees, especially coniferous trees, but also on the ground in leaf litter, under stones and as an
inhabitant of old stone or brick walls (Blower 1985). The species can be numerous under the bark of
river-side willow pollards above winter flood levels (Gregory & Campbell 1996) and this would be
a location worth investigation in Essex.
Order GLOMERIDA: Pill Millipedes
Family Glomeridae
Glomeris marginella (Villers)
This pill millipede is widespread and often
common in the county. It is associated with
woodlands, but can extend its range to non-
wooded areas (Blower 1985). In Essex it is
frequently to be found in litter at the sides of
ditches and hedge bottoms and the map shows
the extent of under-recording in the county.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)