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מרץ 21, 2023

Key for the Identification of the Millipedes of the British Isles from Photographs

So here's something I've been working at on-and-off for a while as a bit of a learning exercise. This is my best attempt at a key to the Millipedes of the British Isles from Photographs on iNat. The strategy is in line with other keys I have done for hoverflies: photographs don't give you the opportunity to choose which features you look at, and are often short on detail, so the key tries to deploy the most obvious features first, and where possible to include a number of different features. In addition, for iNat purposes it is helpful to try and follow the taxonomy step by step from the broader IDs down to species level, enabling the finest possible ID to be given - this is often not possible, but an attempt has been made. These two strategies can sometimes conflict, so compromises have to be made.

Of course certain species simply cannot be identified without microscopic treatment and therefore the key sometimes ends at a higher level (where it is not obvious I have listed the possible taxa in a footnote marked e.g. '(1)'). I have tried to use features that might just be visible in a high quality macro photograph.

I have not illustrated this key - I might add some pics at some time later, but there isn't much available. However there are pictures of the vast majority of British species on the website of the British Myriapod and Isopod Group www.bmig.org.uk/checklist/millipede-checklist which can be used to help interpret the key.

KEY TO THE ORDERS OF BRITISH MILLIPEDES
1. a. Body covered in obvious tufts of thick feathery setae and tufts of especially long setae extending backwards from the rear; 11 segments; less than 4mm long.
b. Body not covered in such tufts; usually longer.		 ORDER POLYXENIDA (Polyxenus lagurus)
SUBCLASS CHILOGNATHA		 End

2
2. a. 12 segments (can look like 11); woodlouse-like appearance; can curl into a ball (not a spiral).

b. More than 18 segments.		 ORDER GLOMERIDA (Family Glomeridae)
SUBCLASS CHILOGNATHA cont...		 8

3
3. a. 19 or 20 segments; often with 'flat-backed' appearance.
b. More than 25 segments.		 ORDER POLYDESMIDA
SUBCLASS CHILOGNATHA cont...		 12
4
4. a. 26 to 32 segments; head distinctly wider than the segments immediately behind it; may have 'flat-backed' or cylindrical appearance.
b. More than 32 segments; head a similar width to th following segments.		 ORDER CHORDEUMATIDA

SUBCLASS CHILOGNATHA cont...		 22

5
5. a. Head conical or 'beak-like'.

b. Head rounded.		 SUPERORDER COLOBOGNATHA
SUPERORDER JULIFORMA		 6

7
6. a. Ocelli present; found outdoors in the British Isles.
b. Ocelli absent; never found outdoors in the British Isles.		 ORDER POLYZONIIDA
ORDER SIPHONOPHORIDA		 11
End
7. a. Medial suture on the face to the labrum; not found outdoors in the British Isles.
b. Medial suture not extending to the labrum; found outdoors in the British Isles.		 ORDER SPIROBOLIDA
ORDER JULIDA		 End
34
KEY TO THE ORDER GLOMERIDA (Family Glomeridae)
8. a. Tergites rough and tuberculate; tergites pale or dark.
b. Tergites smooth and pale.		 Family Glomeridae cont...
Subfamily Doderiinae		 9
10
9. a. Tergites dark with pale borders.
b. Tergites entirely pale. 		Glomeris marginata
Geoglomeris subterranea 		End
End
10. a. Hind margins of tergites raised into distinct ridges.
b. Tergite hind margins not raised. 		Trachysphaera lobata
Adenomeris gibbosa 		End
End
KEY TO THE ORDER POLYZONIIDA
11. a. Small thread-like pink/purple millipede not found outside in UK.
b. Broad bodied brown millipede found outside in UK. 		Rhinotus purpureus
Polyzonium germanicum 		End
End
KEY TO THE ORDER POLYDESMIDA
12. a. Paranota with contrastingly pale colour compared to the main trunk.
b. Paranota of similar colouration to the trunk. 		ORDER POLYDESMIDA cont...
SUBORDER POLYDESMIDEA		 13
15
13. a. Dark brown millipede, paranota with white-ish tips, white-pointed telson and dark legs.
b. Reddish brown millipede with more orangish paranota.		 Chondrodesmus cf riparius
Family Paradoxosomatidae		 End
14
14. a. Pale colour restricted narrowly to the edges of the paranota, not found outdoors in the UK.
b. Pale colour in larger squarish patches at the sides of the paranota. 		Oxidus gracilis
Stosatea italica 		End
End
15. a. Was found outdoors in the British Isles (This is a shortcut - species compatible with the British Isles' climate will key out both ways).
b. Was not found outdoors in the British Isles. 		INFRAORDER POLYDESMOIDES

SUBORDER POLYDESMIDEA cont...		 16

19
16. a. Tiny translucent/white millipede whose rounded paranota create a 'string-of-beads' appearance.
b. Larger and more robust species whose paranota jut out as flattish ledges. 		Family Macrosternodesmidae
Family Polydesmidae		 End
17
17. a. 19 segments, small species.
b. 20 segments. 		Brachydesmus superus
Family Polydesmidae cont...		 End
18
18. a. Pinkish brown millipede with particularly well-rounded paranotal edges in dorsal view in the middle portion, typically found along the M4 corridor.
b. Different. 		Propolydesmus testaceus

Genus Polydesmus 		End

End
20. a. Paranota extended to the side as 'ledges'.
b. Paranota expanded 'rubber-ring-style'. 		Family Polydesmidae
SUBORDER POLYDESMIDEA cont...		 17
21
21. a. Tiny translucent/white millipede with 'string-of-beads' appearance found outdoors in UK.
b. Different. 		Family Macrosternodesmidae
SUBORDER POLYDESMIDEA (1)		 End
End
KEY TO THE ORDER CHORDEUMATIDA
22. a. Paranota laterally prominent in dorsal view.

b. Paranota not laterally prominent in dorsal view, (the segments smoothly cylindrical). 		SUBORDER CRASPEDOSOMATIDEA
Family Chordeumatidae		 26

23
23. a.Pallid species with ocelli in a flattened triangle, 28 or 30 segments
b. Darker species with ocelli in equilateral triangle, 30 segments. 		Genus Melagona
Family Chordeumatidae cont...		 24
25
24. a. 28 segments.
b. 30 segments. 		Melagona scutellaris
Genus Melagona 		End
End
25. a. In side view, male gonopods with large white structures filling the gap between anterior and posterior paragonopods (This area is not obscured by legs).
b. In side view, male gonopods with the gap between anterior and posterior paragonopods visible. (This area is not obscured by legs). 		Genus Chordeuma

Orthochordeumella pallida 		End

End
26. a. Large orange-brown millipede with paranota extremely well developed, having the appearance of a Polydesmus
b. Paranota less well developed, or colour different. 		Nanogona polydesmoides
SUBORDER CRASPEDOSOMATIDEA cont...		 End
27
27. a. Sides of the body and the dorsal midline dark - not reaching to the paranota - sides of the dorsum pale.
b. Different. 		Ceratosphys amoena confusa
SUBORDER CRASPEDOSOMATIDEA cont...		 End
28
28. a. Body unpigmented - very pure white.

b. Colour at least dirty white. 		SUBORDER CRASPEDOSOMATIDEA cont...
SUBORDER CRASPEDOSOMATIDEA cont...		 29

32
29. a. Body bearing long and stout curved setae.

b. Setae normal. 		SUPERFAMILY ANTHROLEUCOSOMATOIDEA
Genus Brachychaeteuma 		30

31
30. a. Paranota and cheeks very well developed.
b. Paranota and cheeks not very well developed. 		Psichrosoma cf breuili
Cranogona dalensi 		End
End
31. a. About 3 poorly pigmented ocelli
b. About 6 well pigmented ocelli 		Genus Brachychaeteuma
Brachychaeteuma melanops 		End
End
32. a. Body bearing many very long stout setae.
b. Setae much less prominent. 		Hylebainosoma nontronensis
SUBORDER CRASPEDOSOMATIDEA cont...		 End
33
33. a. Dark brown millipede, paler over the paranotal bumps.
b. Dark brown millipedes without such a pattern. 		Craspedosoma rawlinsii
SUBORDER CRASPEDOSOMATIDEA (2)		 End
End
KEY TO THE ORDER JULIDA
34. a. Small thread-like millipedes without longitudinal striae on the metazonites; never very dark, sometimes pure white with brightly coloured (red/orange) ozadenes.
b. More robust-shaped millipedes, sometimes large; longitudinal striae on the metazonites; sometimes very dark, always at least dirty white (never pure white); if visible, ozadenes usually dark red/brown, rarely brightly coloured. 		ORDER JULIDA cont...

Family Julidae		 35

39
35. a. Pure white millipede with brightly coloured (red/orange) ozadenes and without ocelli.
b. At least slightly pigmented and with less bright ozadenes; ocelli present. 		Subfamily Blaniulinae
ORDER JULIDA cont...		 36
37
36. a. Ozadenes red.
b. Ozadenes orange.		 Blaniulus guttulatus
Tribe Boreoiulini (3)		 End
End
37. a. Ocelli arranged in a roughly equilateral triangular patch.
b. Ocelli arranged in a narrow horizontal bar.		 Family Nemasomatidae
Family Blaniulidae		 End
38
38. a. Ocelli arranged in a single row.
b. A couple of ocelli placed higher than the main row so that the ocellar bar appears to widen anteriorly.		 Family Blaniulidae (4)
Proteroiulus fuscus 		End
End
39. a. Robust dark millipede with pink legs and antennae.
b. Legs and antennae not pink. 		Ommatoiulus moreleti
Family Julidae cont...		 End
40
40. a. Body with stripes running most of its length (Be aware that immatures of some unstriped species may exhibit vague stripes).
b. Different. 		Family Julidae cont...

Family Julidae cont...		 41

44
41. a. Dark with narrow pale medial stripe
b. Dark with pale submedial stripes and dark medial stripe. 		Leptoiulus belgicus
Family Julidae cont...		 End
42
42. a. Robust brown millipede with pale stripes orangeish, and dorsal projection of telson.
b. Smaller millipede, pale stripes not orange. 		Ommatoiulus sabulosus
Genus Brachyiulus		 End
43
43. a. Found near the Eden project!
b. Found far from the Eden project.		 Genus Brachyiulus
Brachyiulus pusillus 		End
End
44. a. Pale body with relatively brightly coloured ozadenes, no ocelli. (Beware of Cylindroiulus salicivorus in Edinburgh which is pale with orange ozadenes and just a few poorly pigmented ocelli)
b. Usually more pigmented; ocelli present, ozadenes usually dull or dark coloured if visible. 		Family Julidae cont...

Family Julidae cont...		 45

46
45. a. Ozadenes orange, telson with dorsal projection.
b. Ozadenes red, telson lacking dorsal projection. 		Cylindroiulus vulnerarius
Metaiulus pratensis 		End
End
46. a. Telson without dorsal projection.
b. Telson with dorsal projection. 		Family Julidae cont...
Family Julidae cont...		 47
49
47. a. Hind segment with ploughshare-like forward-pointing ventral projection; not a very dark species.
b. Hind segment with no such projection; dark or pale. 		Unciger foetidus
Genus Cylindroiulus 		End
48
48. a. Large (>20mm) dark blue-bronze millipede.
b. Small (<20mm) Brown to pale millipede. 		Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus
Genus Cylindroiulus (5)		 End
End
49. a. Telson projection club-shaped.
b. Telson projection not club-shaped.		 Genus Cylindroiulus
Family Julidae cont...		 50
51
50. a. Very large (>>30mm) and very dark millipede.
b. Much smaller (<<30mm) pale pinkish brown millipede.		 Cylindroiulus londiniensis
Cylindroiulus puctatus 		End
End
51. a. Large very dark millipede with transverse striae on prozonates, and strongly contrasting white legs.
b. Large or small, dark or pale millipede without transverse striae on prozonates		 Tachypodoiulus niger
Family Julidae cont...		 End
52
52. a. Hind segment with ventral projection.
b. Hind segment without ventral projection.		 Family Julidae cont...
Family Julidae cont...		 53
55
53. a. Hairs on body arranged in conspicuous fringes on the metazonites and not limited to hind segments.
b. Hairs on body less conspicuous and limited to hind segments.		 Enantiulus armatus
Genus Cylindroiulus 		End
54
54. a. Large millipede >30mm.
b. Smaller species.		 Cylindroiulus apenninorum
Cylindroiulus pyrenaicus 		End
End
55. a. Pallid species with orange ozadenes and few, weakly pigmented ocelli.
b. Usually very dark species, if pallid then with a larger patch of well pigmented ocelli.		 Cylindroiulus salicivorus
Family Julidae cont...		 End
56
56. a. First leg-pair of males broad at base and then distinctly sickle shaped.
b. Females, or males with different first leg pairs. 		Genus Ophyiulus
Family Julidae cont...		 End
57
57. a. First leg-pair of males tiny, second with flattened projection
b. Females, or males with different first leg pairs. 		Julus scandinavius
Family Julidae cont...		 End
58
58. a. First leg pair of males swollen, terminally curved as hooks, 2nd legs with basal sheath-like projections.
b. Females, or males with different first leg pairs. 		Leptoiulus kervellei
Family Julidae (6)		 End
End

(1) Family Haplodesmidae or Poratia digitata
(2) Genera Anthogona, Anamastigona or Turdulisoma
(3) Genera Boreoiulus or Archiboreoiulus
(4) Genera Choneiulus or Nopoiulus
(5) Cylindroiulus britannicus, latestriatus or parisiorum
(6) Genera Haplopodoiulus or Allajulus, or Cylindroiulus dahli or sagittarius

הועלה ב-מרץ 21, 2023 10:10 לפנה"צ על ידי matthewvosper matthewvosper | 2 תגובות | הוספת תגובה

מרץ 27, 2023

Key for the Identification of the Centipedes of the British Isles from Photographs

In addition to the Millipede Key I've also been working on a Centipede Key - so here it is! As with the millipedes, the strategy is to deploy the most obvious features first, and where possible to include a number of different features, and in addition to try and follow the taxonomy step by step from the broader IDs down to species level, enabling the finest possible ID to be given - this is often not possible, but an attempt has been made. These two strategies can sometimes conflict, so compromises have to be made.

To my tremendous surprise I have ended up keying out every British species, although it will not allow the confident identification of every species in every combination of habitat and leg count: the Geophilus flavus/seurati/osquidatum group is particularly knotty (there are also a couple more species of very doubtful presence in the UK that I have ignored such as Schendyla monoeci). There are a few species that key out in two or even three places (L. borealis). I have tried to use features that might just be visible in a high quality macro photograph from above or the side - very rarely have I included a ventral feature. It is worth noting however that in practice most photographs will not be identifiable to species, especially in Cryptops.

I have not illustrated this key - I might add some pics at some time later, but there isn't much available. However there are pictures of the vast majority of British species on the website of the British Myriapod and Isopod Group www.bmig.org.uk/checklist/centipede-checklist which can be used to help interpret the key. The key also draws heavily on information in Tony Barber's AIDGAP guide.

After the key are a couple of charts illustrating the trunk length of Geophilomorph species and the antennal length of Lithobiomorph species.

KEY TO THE ORDERS OF BRITISH CENTIPEDES
1. a. 35-101 leg pairs (even in juveniles).
b. 21 or 15 leg pairs, juveniles may have fewer, it is not uncommon for legs to be snapped off - especially the hind legs which should point backwards.		 ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA
CLASS CHILOPODA cont...		 29
2
2. a. 21 leg pairs (even in juveniles)

b. 15 leg pairs, juveniles may have fewer.		 ORDER SCOLOPENDROMORPHA (Subgenus Cryptops (Cryptops))
CLASS CHILOPODA cont...		 4

3
3. a. Legs exceptionally long and spindly, even more so towards the back (some over half the length of the body), tergites of a similar length, body with three longitudinal dark stripes.
b. Legs not exceptionally long and spindly, always less than half the body length, tergites 1-7 and 8-15 alternating long and short (7+8 are both long), body without three longitudinal dark dorsal stripes..		 ORDER SCUTIGEROMORPHA (Scutigera coleoptrata)
ORDER LITHOBIOMORPHA		 End

6
KEY TO THE ORDER SCOLOPENDROMORPHA (Subgenus Cryptops (Cryptops))
4. a. Head with complete longitudinal sutures, X-shaped suture on T1, very large (up to nearly 50mm), no groove on the underside of the hind prefemur.
b. Head sutures incomplete or absent, no X-suture on T1, hind prefemur with or without a distinct longitudinal groove, <40mm. 		Cryptops anomalans

Subgenus Cryptops (Cryptops) cont..		 End

5
5. a. Head with short sutures at front and back, no ventral groove in hind prefemur
b. No head sutures, ventral longitudinal groove in hind prefemur. 		Cryptops parisi
Cryptops hortensis 		End
End
KEY TO THE ORDER LITHOBIOMORPHA
6. a. Very small - 4-11mm, 0 or 1 ocellus each side (but there may be a darkened patch around the ocelli), 24-29 antennal articles, legs without spines, tergites without posterolateral projections.
b. Mainly larger species, at least 3 ocelli per side and usually many more, legs with spines (very rarely without spines but then hind legs greatly thickened), 20-54 antennal segments, some tergites with or without projections.)		 Genus Lamyctes

Genus Lithobius 		7

9
7. a. Chestnut colour, one ocellus each side surrounded by a large black patch, 7-10mm, 25-29 antennal articles, unlikely to be found outdoors.
b. Chestnut or pallid colour, one ocellus each side, 4-11mm, 24-25 antennal articles, ocelli not surrounded by a large black patch.		 Lamyctes africanus

Subgenus Lamyctes (Lamyctes) 		End

8
8. a. Chestnut colour, one ocellus each side, up to about 11mm, 25 antennal articles, likely to be found outdoors.
b. Pallid colour, no ocelli, up to about 5mm only, 24 antennal articles, unlikely to be found outdoors.		 Lamyctes coeculus
Lamyctes emarginatus 		End
End
9. a. Legs with obvious dark banding, tergites with a distinctive marbled pattern, (tergite projections on T7,9,11 and 13, 35-46 antennal articles).
b. Legs and tergites without such a pattern, (no other species has tergite projections on T7).		 Lithobius variegatus

Genus Lithobius cont...		 End

10
10. a. Trunk pale, sometimes greyish, with a darker midline, head usually a more yellowish colour against which the dark eye patches stand out, projections on at least T11, 13.
b. Colouration different, or if pale with a dark stripe then no tergite projections 		Subgenus Lithobius

Genus Lithobius cont...		 11

12
11. a. Trunk pale, usually greyish, 17mm, projections on T9, 11 and 13, 32-42 antennal segments, no accesory spine between VpP15 and DpP15.
b. Trunk usually more chestnut coloured, 12/13mm, projections on T11 and 13 only but not on T9 except somewhat noticeably in northern specimens, 28-34 antennal segments, accesory spine between VpP15 and DpP15. 		Lithobius melanops

Lithobius borealis 		End

End
12. a. Small species, a little over 10mm, 20 antennal segments, no tergite projections, tarsi and metatarsi fused on legs 1-11.

b. Mostly larger species, >20 antennal segments, tarsi and metatarsi not fused, tergites with projections or not. 		Subgenus Lithobius (Monotarsobius)
Genus Lithobius cont...		 13

14
13. a. Broad projection on posterolateral apex of the hind tibia of males, 6-9 Ocelli arranged with two large posterior ocelli side by side and an 'incomplete rosette' in front of them (appearance of tapering posteriorly).
b. No such hind leg projection in males, 9-13 with one larger posterior ocellus and the others arranged in about 4 columns of three posteriorly and 2 anteriorly (impression of narrowing anteriorly)). 		Lithobius curtipes

Lithobius crassipes 		End

End
14. a. Small species with characteristic body shape tapering towards the head, and thickened hind four legs giving the appearance of a Cryptops. 23-27 antennal articles, no tergite projections.
b. Larger species with at least 26 antennal articles, body shape and hind legs different.		 Lithobius microps

Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) 		End

15
15. a. No tergite projection on T9.

b. Tergite projection on T9. 		Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...
Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...		 16

22
16. a. No tergite projections on T11 or 13

b. At least with tergite projections on T13. 		Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...
Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...		 17

20
17. a. Tiny species (8mm), tergites with wrinkled appearance, chestnut colour, 23-34 antennal articles. (usually does have projections on T11 and 13 but keys out here because they may be indistinct).
b. Dark or pale species, tergites not with wrinkled appearance, larger, about 15mm, 33-50 antennal articles). 		Lithobius lapidicola

Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...		 End

18
18. a. Pale species, may have a darker stripe, rare and Scottish, 33-50 antennal articles, head not distinctly wider than trunk, tergites not 'wrinkled'.
b. Darker species,26-50 antennal articles, may have an enlarged head.		 Lithobius lucifugus

Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...		 End

19
19. a. Dark species, enlarged head, especially in males, much broader than the trunk. Males without a distinct projection on the inside apex of the hind tibia, 39-50 antennal articles, 10-14 ocelli arranged in a forward pointing triangle.
b. Head not enlarged, males with or without a dictinct apical projection on the inside of the hind femur, 6-9 ocelli arranged as a rosette with two larger ocelli positioned side by side posterodorsally to the rosette.		 Lithobius muticus

Lithobius calcaratus 		End

End
20. a. Very large species (35mm) hind legs nearly half the body lenth, 29-34 antennal articles, evenly coloured.
b. very small species 8-13mm, hind legs in normal proportion to the body, 26-34 antennal articles, often with a darker medial line. 		Lithobius pilicornis
Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...		 End
21
21. a. Tiny species (8mm), tergites with wrinkled appearance, chestnut colour, 23-34 antennal articles, tergite projections may be indistinct, without a hint of a projection on T9, no accesory spine between VpP15 and DpP15.
b. 12/13mm, tergites without 'wrinkled' appearnace, may be a hint of a projection on T9 especially in northern specimens, 28-34 antennal segments, accesory spine between VpP15 and DpP15. 		Lithobius lapidicola

Lithobius borealis 		End

End
22. a. Larger species (>20mm), prominent projections, 35-54 antennal segments.

b. Smaller species (<20mm), more or less prominent projections, 36-45 antennal segments		 Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...
Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...		 23

25
23. a. Found in only one location in Sheerness (Kent), projections on T11 and 13 distinctly narrower than those on T9, 38-52 antennal segments.
b. More widespread or very ubiquitous species, tergite projections not distinctly narrower on T11 and 13, 35-54 antennal segments.		 Lithobius peregrinus

Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...		 End

24
24. a. Rare, southern species, 49-54 antennal segments, 11-16 ocelli.
b. Completely ubiquitous, 35-43 antennal segments, 20-30 ocelli. 		Lithobius piceus
Lithobius forficatus 		End
End
25. a. Very prominent tergite projections, 39-45 antennal segments.

b. Small and narrow projections, 28-45 antennal segments 		Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...
Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...		 26

27
26. a. The projections on T13 significantly larger than those on T9, 32-42 antennal segments, 10-13 ocelli - this species will only key out here if the colour is more uniform than usual.
b. Projections on T9, 11, 13 all very pronounced, 39-45 antennal segments, 7-9 ocelli. 		Lithobius melanops

Lithobius macilentus 		End

End
27. a. 28-34 antennal segments, accesory spine between VpP15 and DpP15 - this species will only key out here if the colour is more uniform than usual.
b. 36-45 antennal segments, no accesory spine between VpP15 and DpP15 		Lithobius borealis.

Subgenus Lithobius (Lithobius) cont...		 End

28
28. a. 14-18 ocelli in 4-5 rows, 36-43 antennal articles, T9 projections not noticably broader than the others, head not typically darker than the body.
b. 10-12 ocelli, 40-45 antennal articles, T9 projections broader than the others, head typically darker than the body. 		Lithobius tenebrosus

Lithobius tricuspis 		End

End
KEY TO THE ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA
29. a. Body greyish except orange at both ends.
b. Different body colour. 		ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...		 30
31
30. a. 51-57 leg pairs, often found on vertical surfaces eg walls, tree trunks.
b. >63-75 leg pairs, usually found on the ground. 		Geophilus carpophagus
Henia vesuviana 		End
End
31. a. Body distinctly reddish throughout (if uncertain key both ways).
b. Body not distinctly reddish throughout. 		ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...		 32
36
32. a. 37-41 leg pairs, body distinctly tapering toward the head.
b. At least 45 leg pairs, body tapering or not. 		Strigamia acuminata
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...		 End
33
33. a. Body distinctly tapering toward the head, 47-53 leg pairs.
b. Body not tapering toward the head, 45-53 leg pairs. 		Genus Strigamia
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...		 34
35
34. a. Pleurites of the final trunk segment fused to the pretergite, 49-53 leg pairs, widespread.
b. Pleurites of the final trunk segment not fused to the pretergite, 47-51 leg pairs, exclusively littoral including in estuaries. 		Strigamia crassipes
Strigamia maritima. 		34
35
35. a. Hind legs with claw, in males hind legs only moderately swollen, widespread
b. Hind legs without claw, in males hind legs grossly swollen, exclusively littoral SW.		 Geophilus easoni
Hydroschendyla submarina 		End
End
36. a. Antennae with elongate articles so that the length of the antennae are five or more times as long as the width of the head, pale yellowish species with distinctly redder heads.
b. Antennae and their constituent articles shorter relative to the head, colour contrast between the body and head less distinct if present.		 Genus Geophilus

ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...		 37

39
37. a. 49 leg pairs.
b. 51-57 leg pairs.
c. 59-63 leg pairs.		 Geophilus flavus
Genus Geophilus cont...
Geophilus osquidatum 		End
38
End
38. a. Exclusively found in littoral habitats, carpophagus fossae on underside, may have 51 leg pairs.
b. May be found anywhere, no carpophagus fossae on underside, may have 51 leg pairs.
c. Known distribution Wales, Western and Southern England, carpophagus fossae on underside, at least 53 leg pairs. 		Geophilus seurati
Geophilus flavus
Geophilus osquidatum 		End
End
End
39. a. >90 leg pairs (Cornwall).
b. 77-83 leg pairs.
c. 59-75 leg pairs.
d. 51-57 leg pairs.
e. <51 leg pairs.		 Haplophilus souletina
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...		 End
40
41
42
44
40. a. Hind coxae dorsally covered in pores, head shorter than broad, max 83 leg pairs.
b. Hind coxae not dorsally covered in pores, head as long as broad, max 81 leg pairs.		 Haplophilus subterraneus
Stenotaenia linearis 		End
End
41. a. Forcipular tergite trapezoidal, (narrower anteriorly) and straight sided, some coxal pores opening dorsally at the base of the hind coxae, head slightly longer than broad
b. Forcipular tergite not much narrower at the front and with rounded edges, hind coxae without dorsal pores, head as long as broad).		 Geophilus electricus

Stenotaenia linearis 		End

End
42. a. Short for its leg count (<20mm) and very pale with hind legs stubby.
b. longer species, yellower with darkened head, hind legs normal.		 Henia brevis
Genus Geophilus 		End
43
43. a. Not in Shetland, (with an isolated ventral pore in the centre of the hind coxae, forcipule without an accessory claw).
b. Shetland, (but is *G impressus* present there too? Currently no records) (without an isolated ventral pore in the centre of the hind coxae, forcipule with an accessory claw). 		Geophilus impressus
Geophilus proximus 		End
End
44. a. Hind coxae dorsally covered in pores, head distinctly (>1.25x) longer than broad.
b. Hind coxae not dorsally covered in pores, head barely longer than broad. 		ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...		 45
48
45. a. Head in dorsal view parallel sided, forcipular tergite also parallel sided, coastal sites, head not distinctly narrower than gap between the poison claws, found outside in the UK.
b. Head distinctly narrower than the gap between the poison claws, broadest at the front; forcipular tergite very narrow, trapezoid, giving the appearance of a neck between the claws, only known from greenhouses. 		Pachymerium ferrugineum

Family Mecistocephalidae		 End

46
46. a. 49 leg pairs, head twice as long as broad, up to about 40mm only known from the Eden project.
b. <49 leg pairs, head about 1.3x as long as broad, body may be distinctly longer or distinctly shorter		 Mecistocephalus guildingi
Family Mecistocephalidae cont...		 End
47
47. a. 45 leg pairs, short species up to 20mm, known from various greenhouses in southern England.
b. 43 leg pairs, long species up to 60mm, old records from greenhouses in Northern England and Scotland. 		Tygarrup javanicus
Dicellophilus carniolensis 		End
End
48. a. 35-37 leg pairs, stocky orange yellow species, forcipular tergite very short.
b. At least 37 leg pairs, normally proportioned and paler species, sometimes with head slightly redder, forcipular tergite normal. 		Eurygeophilus pinguis
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...		 End
49
49. a. Exactly 45 leg pairs, pallid species, very slender hind legs ending in a bristled tubercle. Scilly, Cornwall coasts.
b. Hind legs different. 		Arenophilus peregrinus
ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...		 End
50
50. a. 37-39 segments, pale species, head resembling Pachymerium, hind leg normal (metatarsus not reduced) with claw, Scilly and Isle of Wight.
b. If 39 segments then either hind leg with reduced metatarsus or typical Geophilus appearance (yellowish with darker head). 		Nothogeophilus turki

ORDER GEOPHILOMORPHA cont...		 End

51
51. a. Hind legs with the final segment much shorter and without claw, pale species.
b. Hind legs normal with claw.		 Genus Schendyla
Genus Geophilus 		52
54
52. a. Hind legs relatively long (>1.5x the previous pair ignoring coxae), the final segment of the hind legs 1/3-1/2 as long as the penultimate, not shorter, 37-43 leg pairs.
b. Hind legs <1.5x as long as the previous pair ignoring coxae, the final segment <1/3 as long as the penultimate, 39-49 leg pairs.		 Schendyla nemorum

Genus Schendyla cont...		 End

53
53. a. The final segment of the last leg 1/5-1/3 the length of the penultimate, 39-49 leg pairs, exclusively coastal and southern.
b. The final segment of the last leg minute - <1/7 the length of the penultimate, 39 leg pairs exactly, widespread.		 Schendyla Peyerimhoffi
Schendyla dentata 		End
End
54. a. At least 45 leg pairs.
b. Fewer than 45 leg pairs.		 Genus Geophilus cont...
Genus Geophilus cont...		 43
55
55. a. Head 1.3x as long as broad and rather rectangular, coastal sites, southern, males 41 leg pairs, females 43 leg pairs.
b. Head about as long as broad, widespread, males 37-39 leg pairs, females 39-41		 Geophilus pusillifrater
Geophilus truncorum 		End
End

British Geophilomorpha by Number of Leg Pairs

Colours represent families: Green = Geophilidae, Red = Lintotaeniidae, Pale yellow = Schendylidae, Purple = Mecistocephalidae, Grey = Dignathodontidae, Golden brown = Himantariidae,

British Lithobiomorpha by Number of Antennal Articles:

Colours in header row represent subgenera: Cyan = Lithobius (Monotarsobius), Purple = Lithobius (Sigibius) [Myriatrix] or Lithobius (Polybothrus) [Chilobase], Yellow = Lamyctes (Lamyctes), Green = Lamyctes (Metalamyctes), Red = Lithobius (Lithobius)

Colours in the body represent tergite projections: Red (Lithobius) and Black (Lamyctes) = No tergite projections, Yellow = T7, 9, 11 and 13, Green = T9, 11 and 13, Blue = T11 and 13 but pale blue are those variable or ambiguous species that usually have T11 and 13 only but may also have T9 (borealis) or may lack projections of T11 and even occasionally T13 (lapidicola)


הועלה ב-מרץ 27, 2023 03:30 אחה"צ על ידי matthewvosper matthewvosper | 2 תגובות | הוספת תגובה
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