About Blaniulus guttulatus (Fabricius, 1798)
Blaniulus guttulatus, commonly called the spotted snake millipede, has a long, slender body that is whitish or cream-colored. Each segment bears conspicuous deep red spots called ozadenes. Males are typically 8–12 mm long (0.31–0.47 in) and 0.4 mm wide (0.016 in), but may reach up to 14 mm long (0.55 in) and 0.6 mm wide (0.024 in). Females are slightly larger, with sizes ranging from 12–15 mm long by 0.5 mm wide to 9–16 mm long by 0.7 mm wide (0.47–0.59 in by 0.020 in to 0.35–0.63 in by 0.028 in). This millipede has no eyes, and has short setae on the dorsal edge of each body segment. Ecologically, the species is common and has become nearly ubiquitous in gardens and cultivated areas across Europe and North America. It feeds on sugar beets and other crops, and can become an agricultural pest during prolonged drought conditions. Blaniulus guttulatus spends three years in the nymph stage, and males reach sexual maturity at an earlier developmental stage than females.
