About Ommatoiulus sabulosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Ommatoiulus sabulosus, commonly called the striped millipede, is a European millipede belonging to the family Julidae. It gets its common name from two prominent bright longitudinal stripes that run along its dorsal surface. This species is widespread and common across Central Europe and the British Isles. It has a broad habitat range, which includes open sites such as meadows, fields, and roadside edges, as well as sandy soils and leaf litter in pine, oak, and beech forests. It can be found at elevations from sea level up to 2800 metres. Ommatoiulus sabulosus occasionally appears in very large numbers and engages in mass migrations. It is an effective scavenger that feeds on foliage, rotten wood, and other dead plant material; the humus it produces is used by plants to support their growth. One recognized geographic subspecies or form of this species is Ommatoiulus sabulosus aimatopodus.
