38. Nopoiulus kochii (Gervais, 1847)

Iulus Kochii Gervais, 1847 .

Nopoiulus pulchellus auct., not C.L. Koch (1838).

Nopoiulus minutus auct., not Brandt (1841).

Blaniulus venustus Meinert, 1868 .

Nopoiulus breuili Brolemann, 1921 .

Blaniulus atticus Verhoeff, 1925 .

Distribution

AL, AT, BA, BE, BG, BY, CH, CZ, DE, DK-DEN, EE, ES-BAL, ES-CNY, FI, FR-FRA, GB-GRB, GB- NI, GR-GRC, HR, HU, IE, IT-ITA, IT-SI, LT, LV, LU, MK, NL, NO-NOR, PL, PT-AZO, PT-MDR, RO, RU-KGD, RU-RUC, RU-RUE, RU-RUS, RU-RUW, SB, SE, SI, SK, TR-TUE, UA. Euro-Caucasian, though few records from the W Mediterranean region. – A cosmopolitan species, introduced into North Africa (Egypt), Asia, North and South America and New Zealand.

Habitat

In Eastern Europe it is characteristically found in swamp woodland but in other forests as well. Found in light soils rich in humus, often in alluvial valleys or sandy areas. Also open grassland, horticultural ground, suburban areas, parks and gardens. Rotting tree stumps, under bark, in manure heaps, under plant pots, in litter and in the soil, once in a mole’s nest. Reported from catacombs, caves and gypsum quarries/chalk pits. Largely synanthropic away from Eastern Europe. There is a report on this species infesting the human intestine (Ertek et al. 2004).

Remarks

As in the case of Blaniulus guttulatus, records of Iulu s / Blaniulus / Nopoiulus pulchellus had to be treated with caution in making the maps. Errors are possible.