Brown Millipede
Ophyiulus pilosus
This record describes Ophyiulus pilosus (species). Recorded family: Julidae. Recorded order: Julida.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Classification
About Julida: the wider group
Order-level background for Julida, the group containing Ophyiulus pilosus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Julida is the largest millipede order in temperate regions with ~750 described species. The spotted snake millipede (Blaniulus guttulatus) is a common garden species across Europe and North America.
Ecological role of the group
Julid millipedes are critical soil engineers that fragment leaf litter and mix organic material into deeper soil layers. They consume their own fecal pellets (coprophagy) to extract maximum nutrients from plant material.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Some Julida species are significant agricultural pests - the spotted snake millipede damages strawberries, sugar beet, potatoes, and other root crops by feeding on seeds and seedlings.
Recorded sources for this group: Agricultural entomology, soil ecology research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
