Polydesmus angustus
It is up to 25 mm long and 4 mm wide, and has about 20 segments. This is a flattened, brownish millipede with off-white legs.
There are several very similar species which can only be confidently identified using a key and a microscope or good lens.
Gardens and woodland, often found in dead wood, compost heaps and leaf litter.
All year round.
Normally feeding on dead leaves and other rotting material, but also fond of soft fruit such as Strawberries.
Widespread and common in Britain.
Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.
David Nicholls
Aylestone Meadows
31 March 2009
David Nicholls
Ulverscroft NR
30 March 2007
David Nicholls
Martinshaw Wood
07 April 2013
specimen examined
David Nicholls
Ratby, Burroughs Wood
29 November 2023
David Nicholls
Ratby, Burroughs Wood
29 November 2023
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Common Flat-backed Millipede
- Species group:
- Centipedes & Millipedes
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Polydesmida
- Family:
- Polydesmidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 20
- First record:
- 30/09/1987 (Adrian Rundle)
- Last record:
- 29/11/2023 (Nicholls, David)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.
Latest images
Latest records
David Nicholls
Thornton reservoir
02 February 2021
David Nicholls
Ratby, plantation woodland
31 March 2020
David Nicholls
Ratby Burroughs
13 December 2018
male gonopod
