Ophyiulus germanicus (Verhoeff, 1896)
Status:
GB IUCN status: Not applicable (non-native)
ID Difficulty
Identification
This recently discovered millipede (2015) is of very similar to appearance to Ophyiulus pilosus, but slightly larger in size. It is apparent that it has been confused with other species that have a pointed projecting telson, especially the ubiquitous Tachypodoiulus niger (also possibly Julus scandinavius or Haplopodoiulus spathifer). However, the male's sickle shaped first pair of legs is typical of Ophyiulus spp. (see image to right).
A description, with figures, is given by Gregory (2018).
Distribution
A male and female were collected in November 2015 from a Local Wildlife Site in Oxford city with additional specimens collected the following spring (Gregory, 2018).
Subsequently, it has been recorded from Northern Ireland (where it had been overlooked as Tachypodoiulus niger and has proved to be widespread; BMIG Newsletter 38), Dublin, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands. In 2021 it was recorded from south Essex and Manchester and in 2022 it was shown to be widespread on the Isle of Man. It is highly likely that addition localities await discovery.
At some sites this millipede was found to be associated with the Laboulbeniales fungus Troglomyces rossii, a fungus new to Britain (Telfer, 2020).
Habitat
It typically found in disturbed woodland or synanthropic sites where it occurs in the usual millipede places, under dead wood, stones, etc.
References
Gregory, S.J. (2018) A millipede new for the UK: Ophyiulus germanicus (Verhoeff, 1896) from Oxford (Diplopoda, Julida: Julidae). Bulletin of the British Myriapod & Isopod Group 30: 61-67.
Links
MilliBase - Global catalogue of Millipedes: https://millibase.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1025236
BRC code
65