A free, one day introductory field workshop for FSC Biodiversity Fellows. The Preston Montford grounds will provide the ideal location for introducing the techniques of finding and collecting woodlice, centipedes and millipedes. You will also be introduced to the key features used in identification of the species and given the opportunity to develop field identification skills.
Polydesmus testaceus is listed as being a species under threat from a new line of power cables due to be constructed by National Grid near Ipswich. The Company says that the new connection is needed to meet groing demand but the work will pass through Hintlesham Woods. The new lines will destroy part of the woods and fragment the remainder into separate parts, threatening the millipede and other species such as herb Paris and wild service trees. According to the National Grid no firm decision has yet been made.
From the East Anglian Daily Times
Bob Mesibov in Australia has found a population of a species of millipede, Prosopodesmus panporus, only previously known from hothouses including Kew Gardens. Bob says 'this unmistakable species was collected in rainforest on the Cape York Peninsula in tropical north Queensland. Because that rainforest area is remote and little-visited, and because 3 congeners are also found in tropical north Queensland, I think it likely that P. panporus is an Australian native.'
Other identification guides are freely downloadable. Also see Resources > Online Resources > woodlice & waterlice and millipedes & centipedes tabs.