Julus scandinavius Latzel, 1884

Distribution 

This is a widespread species across Britain and Ireland but, although common in much of the country, it is surprisingly scarce in the extreme south east and central southern England. 

Julus scandinavius is also a common species in central Europe but it is absent from most of France including the channel coasts (Kime, 1999). It has been introduced to the USA (Jeekel, 1973). 

Habitat

It has been collected from a wide range of habitats including grasslands, wetlands and sand dunes but analysis of the recording scheme habitat data suggests a strong association with woodland. It is chiefly a woodland species in continental Europe (Kime, 2004; Pedroli-Christen, 1993).  It appears to be less synanthropic than Ophyiulus pilosus and shows a strong negative relationship with cultivated land and waste ground. Blower (1985) states that it has a preference for more acid soils and, although it does occur in calcareous grassland, Kime (1995) reports it is never found in limestone woodlands in Europe. Although below the significance threshold for a strong association, the habitat analysis does suggest a preference for non-calcareous soils. 

Phenology

Animals take three years to reach maturity but after breeding in the spring both sexes die and hence there are few adults around by late summer (Blower, 1979). However, there are some records of adults from all months of the year.

This species account is based on Lee (2006).