When is a woodlouse not a woodlouse?

Tue 12 May 2020, 14:59

When it's a Pill Millipede! This is a curious little creature that can be found under old rotting damp wood either in your garden or out on daily exercise and is a good one for little kids. It's almost black with a pale band on each segment and as with all millipede's has 2 legs per segment.

There are some 62 species in the UK some imported in glass houses and some escaped species, I have found a handful in comparison. For little kids a snake millipede is just a snake millipede for everyone else they are either blunt tailed or white legged millipedes and easy to spot. If your looking then there is a chance of bumping into a flat backed millipede and for many it's best to stick to that, they 'can't be separated into different species with particularly good pictures but a challenge.

There is another group you will possibly catch site of us a family group commonly known as spotted snake millipede's. They are smaller and generally paler in colour but easily spotted they can be identified but care needs to be taken.

Centipedes will normally be present and usually involves counting legs so very good pictures are needed and they have 2 legs per segment. The brown, stone and handed centipede and a couple of others can be identified quite easily good luck with the others.

Not forgetting the humb!e woodlouse even these aren't quite what you expect! From the pill, shiny,rough woodlouse to the pygmy and rosy woodlouse quite a lot can be spotted under a piece of wood. If you have an ants next in your garden try putting a piece of wood or stone over it, give a few days and try having a look under when the sun is out and you might just catch sight of the illusive ant woodlouse. It lives in ants nests as cleaners coming up for warmth they are pure white and blind.