Ophyiulus in Victoria: Results of millipede surveys from South-eastern Australia

Abstract

The composition and ecology of the millipede fauna of Victoria remain poorly understood. We collected millipedes as part of a series of ecological arthropod surveys across south-eastern Australia, focusing mainly on Victoria. These samples almost exclusively contained millipedes from the introduced order Julida. We pursued species identification of the julids when it became apparent there were species other than the well-recorded Ommatoiulus moreleti (Lucas, 1860) (Poruiguese millipede) in the samples. The majority of specimens were O. moreleti. but we also detected at least one species of Cylindrohilus Verhoeff. 1894. as well as an Ophyiulus Berlese. 1884. species, specimens of which have b..