The distribution and abundance of the Portuguese millipede Ommatoiulus moreletii (Diplopoda: Iulidae) in Australia

Abstract

AbstractThe Portuguese millipede Ommatoiulus moreletii is widespread in South Australia, well‐established in Victoria and Tasmania and has recently been found in Perth. Western Australia. It is predicted that this millipede will eventually occur in pest numbers in large areas of southern Australia.Within South Australia, O. moreletii initially erupts in very large numbers following invasion of a new area, then declines to a lower abundance. The decrease in abundance may be caused by a shortage of food.There was no evidence to suggest changes in the sex ratio, age distribution or percentage maturity of O. moreletii following invasion. However, millipedes in newly‐invaded areas were larger (and therefore more fecund in the case of females) than those in older populations.There was no evidence that O. moreletii is competing with native millipedes in South Australia. Three to four years after a bushfire in a Eucalyptus woodland, there was no difference between the numbers of O. moreletii in burnt and unburnt areas.