Distribution and ecology
Tachypodoiulus niger walking on moss. © Stemonitis, Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic license
Tachypodoiulus niger is widely distributed across the UK and is one of the most commonly recorded millipedes in Britain and Ireland.
Distribution:
Tachypodoiulus niger is one of the most commonly recorded millipedes in Britain and Ireland.
It is one of the four most frequently encountered British millipedes due to its habit of resting under stones, logs, etc.
Habitat:
This millipede is usually found amongst leaf litter, under loose tree bark, in moss or, occasionally indoors.
It is very widespread and common in gardens throughout Britain.
It is sometimes found at night climbing trees to graze the green algae there and it is the most likely millipede to enter houses or outbuildings where it does no harm.
It is a useful creature in the garden for the role it plays in returning decaying vegetation to soil.
Nutrition:
Most millipedes are detritivores, preferring to eat decaying plant material rather than living vegetation.