Polydesmus denticulatus C.L.Koch, 1847

Distribution

This is a frequent and widespread species in Britain and Ireland although records from Ireland and northern Scotland are relatively sparse. 

Polydesmus denticulatus is a widespread European species occurring from France eastwards to Russia and from Bulgaria and Italy north to Scandinavia. It has been introduced to Newfoundland (Blower, 1985). 

Habitat

It has been found in a wide range of habitats, most frequently in woodland (55% of records) but analysis of the recording scheme habitat data suggests a strong association with wetland. Blower (1985) considered it a woodland species and Kime (1995) reported it was usually found in wet woodland.  In Britain and Ireland it shows a strong negative relationship with synanthropic urban and suburban sites. In Belgium the millipede has also been found in a range of habitats but particularly in humid or wet conditions, often in woodland (Kime, 2004; Van Den Haute, 1999) and can survive inundation (Zulka, 1996). Further east in Luxemburg, Germany and Switzerland it is more typical of open habitats such as grassland and arable land (Kime, 1995; Pedroli-Christen, 1993; Schubart, 1934) whilst in the north and east of its European range it becomes synanthropic (Kime, 2001).

Phenology

Adults have been recorded throughout the year but most frequently from April to September. Blower (1970) reported that animals from a population in a Cheshire woodland matured in their second summer and the peak activity of adults occurred in June and July.  

This species account is based on Lee (2006).