Brachyiulus pusillus (Leach, 1816)

Distribution and Habitat

This species is widespread across Britain and Ireland. Blower (1985) shows records for vice counties 96, 97, 98 and 104 in NW Scotland. These were listed but not mapped in the preliminary atlas (British Myriapod Group, 1988) and are not mapped here as precise grid references were not available. 

Brachyiulus pusillus is also widespread in Europe, although Kime (2004) noted that some of the eastern records may refer to another species, B. bagnalli Brölemann, 1924. Brachyiulus pusillus has been introduced to North and South America, South Africa and many of the Atlantic islands (Blower, 1985).

Habitat 

The species appears to become increasingly coastal further north in Britain but also shows a strong association with cultivated sites and grasslands at inland locations in the south. Gregory and Campbell (1996) noted it was typical of river-side meadows in Oxfordshire. Analysis of the recording scheme habitat data suggests a strong negative relationship with woodland, something which Kime (2004) has noted in Belgium along with an association with pastures and agricultural land. Analysis of the soil data suggests a strong association with clays but a negative relationship with loams. Jeekel (2001) linked the species with humid, clayey soils in the Netherlands and suggested it could survive periodical inundation. 

Phenology

 Adults have been collected throughout the year but records are most frequent in the spring between March and June. Both sexes probably die after breeding (Blower, 1985) in the spring.

This species account is based on Lee (2006).