200 Myriapoda: a review of their status in Essex
Strigamia acuminata (Leach)
A species widespread, but local, in England and Wales found in leaf litter, dead timber and under
and bark in woodland, more rarely under stones. One pre-1940 10km square (TQ59) is shown in
Essex by the 1988 provisional national atlas together with TL54 which probably originates from
Cambridgeshire. There are three recent records for North Essex - Boxted (TM009335) and Creak's
Grove at Little Horkesley (TL961329), both made by S.J. Gregory on 28 December 1992, and
Barnards Farm (TL7533) made by the author on 7 November 1998. There is one recent record for
South Essex from The Park, Westley Heights (TQ6785) made by the author on 6 November 1998.
Strigamia maritima (Leach)
A coastal species found on the sea shore usually in shingle banks and rock crevices. A pre-1940 dot
for TM01 is the only Essex record shown in the 1988 provisional national atlas. The author has
collected the species under a stone in the upper tidal zone of the Thames near Aveley Bay (TQ533790)
on 14 June 1999 (confirmed by S.J. Gregory). This appears to be the only recent county record.
Geophilus carpophagus Leach
A common centipede found on the soil or in
leaf litter. Urban and domestic animals are
larger and have more trunk segments than those
collected in natural sites and it has been
suggested the two forms could be genetically
distinct (Barber & Keay 1988). Most Essex
records are from woodland. Presumably the
species is very under-recorded.
Geophilus electricus (Linnaeus)
A widespread, but uncommon, centipede with a significant bias towards synanthropic sites (Barber
& Keay 1988). There are three modern records in Essex all made by S.J. Gregory; under stones in
the churchyard at Boxted Church (TL998333) on 28 December 1992, at Stanway (TL959235) in a
domestic garden on 25 December 1992, and under stones and dead wood at Halstead along the
disused railway cutting (TL803319) on 27 February 1994.
Geophilus insculptus Attems
A widespread species nationally with a northerly and easterly tendency (Barber & Keay 1988). It is
found under stones, in litter and dead wood and is particularly common in gardens, grassland and
arabic land. The provisional national atlas shows prc-1940 records for TL63, TL81, TM02, TQ59,
a 1941-1963 record for TQ49 and a 1964-1988 record for TQ48. The only record on the county
database at present is for Woodford Rubbish Tip (TQ416893) made by Dr S. Hopkin on 22 September
1985.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)