Red Harvestman & Spotted Snake Millipede
/The Red Harvestman (Opilio canestrinii) is a newly arrived non-native species, first observed in Gloucestershire in 2011. It is seen mostly in the late summer and autumn, and has a distinctive dark legs contrasting with orange leg sockets and white rings around its eyes. It’s believed to be quite aggressive, supplanting related Opilone species as it extends its range.
This Spotted Snake Millipede crawled out of the Blewits I picked earlier in the week. With it’s pale colour with blood-red spots it is quite distinctive. It is quite a common species, though this is the first I’ve found, living in cultivated soil.
