Smallest millipede in the world

[Bruce Williams]

I thought some of you might like to see these recent pics of our smallest millipede (in fact I understand it's the world's smallest known millipede). It's called the Bristly Millipede (Polyxenus lagurus).

Apart from being the smallest millipede it also has the fewest legs of all Myriapods, namely 12 pairs. In addition to being a double record holder it also happens to be a very attractive little animal (IMO).

Anyway, I came across this small colony in Stony Stratford, Bucks last week. They are living in a deep crack in an old wooden fencepost. So far the most I have seen out and about on the post at any one time is eight individuals. Let me tell you at ~3mm long they are very difficult to spot.

These first two pics show a scale bar.





This next pic shows the eye configuration quite well (you might need to squint ). There appears to be a ring of 5 ocelli arranged around what looks like a central ocellus.



They were obviously aware of me (the camera flash maybe?) as they soon get fed up being photographed and quickly disappear back into the crack.

Bruce

[JRsbugs]

Thanks for the look in Bruce, great shots!

It is very attractive, I think most tiny creatures are amazingly beautiful.

I had to squint to see the small ocelli but I spotted them in the end!

I will have to start looking in cracks in posts.

Janet

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Janet .

I've only seen this species once before and on that occasion it was you that identified it for me. See: Ornate invertebrate - I have no idea what this is?

Bruce

[Ukwildlifeo]

Excellent find + great pics. Ive read about these but never found one.

[JRsbugs]

I remember that Bruce, you and you doggy poo bags!

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Neil .

Yes, I'm hoping they hang around long enough for me to get a few higher mag pics and (I don't know quite how) a reasonable side-on shot.

Janet - Yep, still using the trusty poo bag method from time to time .

Bruce

[SpikyPhasmid]

What a beautifully strange and delicate little beast.

[bigdave60dog]

Really good pics. We don`t get these this far north but they were quite common in Middle Earth. They are easiest to find under loose, dry tree bark, Thet don`t liseem to like too much moisture.

[Bruce Williams]

Totally agree SpikyP .

Thanks Dave.

.....Did you mean Tolkien's Middle Earth.....and could this mean that Bilbo Baggins may well have snapped a close-up of Polyxenus lagurus grubbing a living around the tree bark of the Shire? .

Bruce

[bigdave60dog]

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

Totally agree SpikyP .

Thanks Dave.

.....Did you mean Tolkien's Middle Earth.....and could this mean that Bilbo Baggins may well have snapped a close-up of Polyxenus lagurus grubbing a living around the tree bark of the Shire? .

Bruce

That is much more true than you know. Tolkien lived in Edgbaston and Mosley, Both in south Birmingham. He is said to have taken his inspiration from that area eg Edgbaston reservoir Pumping station Chimney and the "folly" nearby were the Two Towers when he lived in Stirling Road. Mosley Bog and Sarehole Mill were his inspiration for Middle Earth and The Shire. Both of the latter are in the general area that I call "Middle Earth" where I knew hairy Millipedes to live. Bilbo Baggins would definitely have known these well before he went to finish has days with the Elves.
Dave