Ophyiulus pilosus (Newport, 1842)

Kime, Richard Desmond & Enghoff, Henrik, 2017, Atlas of European millipedes 2: Order Julida (Class Diplopoda), European Journal of Taxonomy 346, pp. 1-299 : 148

492. Ophyiulus pilosus (Newport, 1842)

Iulus pilosus Newport, 1842 .

Julus longabo C.L. Koch, 1847 .

Iulus fallax Meinert, 1868 .

Ophyiulus major Bigler, 1920 .

Ophyiulus fallax auct.

Ophyiulus fallax major auct.

Leptoiulus fallax minor Verhoeff, 1908 .

Ophyiulus fallax lobatus Attems, 1927 .

Distribution

AT, BA, CH, CZ, DE, DK-DEN, FR-FRA, GB-CI, GB-GRB, GB-NI, IT-ITA, HR, HU, IE, NL, NO- NOR, PL, RO, RU-KGD, SE, SI, SK. An unusual distribution in mainly Central Europe, Britain, Ireland and southern Scandinavia. – Also introduced into New Zealand and North America.

Habitat

It has been found in a wide variety of habitats but shows a preference for humid deciduous woodland ( Blower 1985) often beside lakes and rivers ( Pedroli-Christen 1993): Alnus woods, boggy ground. In dune-slacks, wetland behind coastal dunes, often wooded. Found under stones in meadows and parks. Sometimes in caves ( Blower & Gabutt 1964; Blower & Miller 1974).

Remarks

Ophyiulus major Bigler, 1920 has been regarded as a subspecies or synonym of pilosus by several authors, e.g., Attems (1927, as O. fallax lobatus ) and Pedroli-Christen (1993). Due to difficulties in distinguishing major from ‘true’ pilosus the map combines records of both nominal taxa. Specific records of major are available from Switzerland (Bigler’s original locus typicus), Germany (southern Bavaria), Austria and Slovenia as well as the northern half of Italy and Croatia. It would be useful if genetic studies were performed on this group in order to settle the synonymy. The proposed separate taxa are sympatric in Central Europe. While O. pilosus s.s. is very common in Britain and Ireland, in northern France it has been found only in damp woodland immediately behind the dunes in the Pas de Calais and Somme departments. There are similar records from the Netherlands but it has not yet been recorded from inland France or anywhere in Belgium. The very unusual distribution of Ophyiulus pilosus may partly relate to its pioneering abilities, as revealed in the New World.