194 Myriapoda: a review of their status in Essex
Choneiulus palmatus (Nemec)
The author has recorded this scarce millipede at Temple Mills (TQ365868), an old railway marshal! ing
yard in Waltham Forest, and the identification has been confirmed by S.J. Gregory. The site has
survived the building of aroad but is threatened by development. The millipede was found in numbers
under fallen wood at the edge of scrub on the 25 June 1999 and a single individual was taken in
pitfall traps between 13 and 27 July 1999.
Blaniulus guttulatus (Fabricius)
This millipede is noted for North Essex in the 1988 national atlas with a pre-1971 record shown for
TL63. In South Essex the species has been collected by Dr P. Kirby from St Mary's Churchyard in
East Ham (TQ429823) on 27 March 1985 and has been recorded at Woodford Rubbish Tip
(TQ416893) by Dr S. Hopkin on 29 June 1985,22 September 1985 and 5 May 1986 (records in the
former Passmore Edwards Museum database). Hanson (1992) notes the species for Lords Bushes in
Epping Forest. It is said to be a common and widespread soil dwelling millipede, often encountered
in gardens and arable land.
Family Julidae
Ommatoiulus sabulosus (Linnaeus)
Although this large and distinctive millipede is widespread and common in much of Britain, it seems
to be rare in Essex, and is also inexplicably scarce in central southern England (Gregory & Campbell).
Whilst associated with dunes, sandy soils and coniferous woodland and heathland it is also a wandering
species which can occur in almost any type of habitat (Blower 1985). There are recent records made
by S.J. Gregory from Great Holland Churchyard (TM219194) and Walton Naze (TM2624) both on
26 February 1994, and by the author from a green lane near North Benfleet Hall (TQ766905) on 21
May 1999 and at Wakering Stairs, Foulness (TQ969871) on 12 June 1999. Several were seen at the
Backwarden (TL7803) on Danbury Common in 1997 by R.G. Payne (Pyman 1998/9). There are
records shown in the 1988 national atlas for TL44 and TL54 which may in Cambridgeshire and pre-
1971 records are shown for TL60 and TL70.
Tachypodoiulus niger (Leach)
A very common millepede which is found in a
wide variety of habitats, often synanthropic. It
is more frequent in base-rich sites (Blower
1985). In Essex the species is frequently
encountered, at least in the west of the county,
where it can be beaten off hedges and bushes
or found under dead wood, in rotten stumps
and in rough grassland.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)