Brachydesmus superus explained

Brachydesmus superus, sometimes called the flat millipede,[1] [2] is a species of millipede in the family Polydesmidae.[3] [4] Its specific name is from the Latin word for "above, upper,"[5] because it lives in the upper soil layer.[6]

Appearance

A light brown or grey flat-backed millipede. Adults are up to long, with 19 segments (including the telson), unlike most other adults in the family Polydesmidae, which usually have 20 segments.[7] Accordingly, adults in this genus have two fewer legs than most polydesmid adults have: Females have only 29 pairs of legs, and males have only 28 pairs of walking legs, excluding one pair of gonopods.[8] [9]

Distribution

Native to Europe, also found in New England.[10]

Behaviour

Lives in damp terrestrial habitats.[11] Female lays about 50 eggs in spring or summer in a dome-shaped nest. The first-staged larva has seven segments and three pairs of legs; it moults six times (sometimes seven for males) before reaching adult size.[12]

They are known as a pest in sugar beet fields.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Principles of Horticulture. Charles R.. Adams. Michael P.. Early. Katherine M.. Bamford. November 8, 2008. Routledge. 9780750686945 . Google Books.
  2. Book: Principles of Horticulture: Level 2. Charles. Adams. Mike. Early. Jane. Brook. Katherine. Bamford. August 7, 2014. Routledge. 9781317937777 . Google Books.
  3. The biology of Brachydesmus Superus (Latz.) Diplopoda. J. W.. Stephenson. May 1, 1960. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 3. 29. 311–319. Taylor and Francis+NEJM. 10.1080/00222936008655772.
  4. Web site: The Transactions of the Cave Research Group. November 8, 1973. Cave Research Group. Google Books.
  5. Web site: A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. Walter William. Skeat. November 8, 1895. Harper & Bros.. Google Books.
  6. Book: Handbook of Soil Invertebrate Toxicity Tests. Hans. L?kke. Cornelis A. M. van. Gestel. May 5, 1998. Wiley. 9780471971030 . Google Books.
  7. Web site: Brachydesmus superus Latzel, 1884 | British Myriapod and Isopod Group. www.bmig.org.uk.
  8. Book: Blower, J. Gordon . Millipedes : keys and notes for the identification of the species . 1985 . Published for the Linnean Society of London and the Estuarine and Brackish-Water Sciences Association by E.J. Brill . Linnean Society of London, Estuarine and Brackish-water Sciences Association . 90-04-07698-0 . London . 13439686.
  9. Web site: Mesibov . Robert . Robert Mesibov. External Anatomy of Polydesmida: Body plans . 2022-02-20 . myriapodology.org.
  10. Web site: Brachydesmus superus Latzel, 1884. www.gbif.org.
  11. New Records of Millipedes from Munster, Ireland. English, Mary. 1976. The Irish Naturalists' Journal. 18. 12. 341–347. 25537965 . JSTOR.
  12. Book: Gratwick, M.. Crop Pests in the UK: Collected edition of MAFF leaflets. December 6, 2012. Springer Science & Business Media. 9789401114905 . Google Books.
  13. Book: The Sugar Beet Crop. D. A.. Cooke. J. E.. Scott. December 6, 2012. Springer Science & Business Media. 9789400903739 . Google Books.

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