Myriapoda: a review of their status in Essex 197
Polydesmus testaceus CL. Koch National Status Notable/Nb
Found in very few 10km squares nationally, this millipede was first recorded in Britain by Pocock
(1903) from Walton-on-the-Naze. There are no further records from Essex, but it seems quite possible
the species will be refound. Apparently, both in Britain and Europe occurrences have always been
from chalk or limestone habitats, under stones in quarries, etc. (Blower 1985).
Polydesmus inconstans Latzel
This species is recorded for North Essex in the 1988 preliminary national atlas with records shown
for the 10km square TL43 and also TL54 (pre-1971 and probably Cambridgeshire). The only recent
record is for South Essex at East Canvey (TQ816836) where the author collected two males, confirmed
by S.J.Gregory, on 5 July 1999 from under rubble in a small area of waste ground nearthecoast.lt
seems probable it will be found elsewhere in the county and should be searched for especially
between May and July in quarries and grassland.
Polydesmus gallicus Latzel
A common species which already has widely
scattered records in Essex. In common with
comments in Blower (1985) most of our
records come from woodland or damp
situations in open country such as ditches and
dyke edges, but also from rough grassland and
roadside verges.
Polydesmus denticulatus CL. Koch
This millipede is supposed to be a common inhabitant of old oak and mixed deciduous woods,
sometimes quite acid, often in association with P. angustus, but not often recorded away from
woodlands (Blower 1985). The 1988 preliminary national atlas records the species for S. Essex with
a pre-1971 record for TQ89. The only recent record is by S.J. Gregory for Donyland Wood
(TM015206) near Colchester in North Essex on 27 December 1991. There is seemingly plenty of
suitable habitat in Essex, but the author has yet to collect the species and time will tell whether the
species is genuinely rare in the county.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)