Tachypodoiulus niger (Leach, 1814)

Kime, Richard Desmond & Enghoff, Henrik, 2017, Atlas of European millipedes 2: Order Julida (Class Diplopoda), European Journal of Taxonomy 346, pp. 1-299 : 159

536. Tachypodoiulus niger (Leach, 1814)

Julus niger Leach, 1814 .

Julus albipes C.L. Koch, 1838 .

Ischiolobus niger Attems, 1951 .

Ommatoiulus (Phylommatoiulus) montanus Ceuca, 1974 .

Tachypodoiulus albipes auct.

Distribution

AT, BE, CH, CZ, DK-DEN, DE, ES-SPA, FR-FRA, GB-CI, GB-GRB, GB-NI, IE, LU, NL. Extended Atlantic.

Habitat

Eurytopic and generally very common throughout its range, with large population densities in woodland, especially on limestone, while it is found on most other types of soil as well. It is very scarce on peaty soils, rare or absent from polders in Holland and Belgium. In some areas it is markedly associated with forest and hedges. In Britain, however, the very large bank of records does not particularly confirm this ( Lee 2006); perhaps owing to its abundance, it is found in many different habitats. It readily climbs trees and often shelters under dead bark. It has been trapped high above the ground and has even been found in Malaise traps.

Remarks

North of the Mediterranean zone it is one of the most abundant millipedes in Western Europe. While it occurs in the north of Spain and the French Pyrenees, it appears to be uncommon or missing from low ground in the warmer parts of southern France (Mauriès, pers. comm.). Its southern limits are all in the mountains. A very active species, easily observed and thus one of the most recorded species in Western Europe.