The first genome of a myriapod, the geophilomorph centipede  Strigamia maritama, has been sequenced. 

Arthropods are the most species-rich group of animals on Earth. Of the four main arthropod groups alive today, insects, crustaceans, chelicerates and myriapods, it is the latter (which includes centipedes and millipedes) for which the genome had not been sequenced. 

Two (yes, TWO!) species of chourdeumatid millipede new to Britain, Ceratosphys amoena ssp. confusa (Ribaut, 1955) and Hylebainosoma nontronensis Mauriès & Kime, 1999, have been recently found outdoors in south Wales - ON THE SAME DAY!

By Steve Gregory at Dinton Pastures, Reading (BENHS)

A one day free introductory workshop to the identification of woodlice, millipedes and centipedes. Following a presentation on the characters used to identify these groups, participants will have the chance to name their own material or specimens made available on the day from the BMIG reference collection which is housed at Dinton Pastures.

For further details, including directions, see http://www.benhs.org.uk/site/?q=node/17

Steve Gregory (Dinton Pastures, Reading - BENHS)

A free introductory workshop to the identification of woodlice, millipedes and centipedes. After a presentation on the characters used to identify these groups, participants will have the chance to name their own material or specimens made available on the day from the BMIG reference collection housed at Dinton Pastures.

For full details will be made available in due course: http://www.benhs.org.uk/site/?q=node/17

Paul Richards

(BESS project, Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield & Sorby Natural History Society Myriapod & Isopod recorder)

Date: Saturday, 29th March, 2014.    10:00 – 15:00

JG Graves Woodland Discovery Centre, Ecclesall woods, Sheffield.