DIPLOPODA (millipedes) > GLOMERIDA (pill millipedes) > Glomeridae

Glomeris marginata is a bulky little creature that typically reaches a length of around 15mm, although some individuals can be as big as 20mm long and 8mm wide. They have shiny black dorsal plates with distinctive white rims. Each of their twelve segments, except for the collum, second and final segment bears two pairs of legs; normally 18 pairs in total.

The number of legs is just one way of distinguishing them from pill woodlice that have 7 pairs of walking legs, one pair per body segment. The body structure also varies, with a single large shield protecting the head instead of a number of small plates as found in woodlice and, similarly with the final segment, which is one piece rather than three. This allows pill millipedes to enroll rather than fold themselves into a ball as pill woodlice do and, when you look carefully, you'll notice that the shape is asymmetrical rather than the near perfect sphere that woodlice achieve. The collum is very small and will be tucked right in when the millipede is rolled up. The large second segment is easily recognisable and, from there, a further ten segments can be counted with the final twelve segment enclosing the ball and protecting the millipede's head.

The species may be found in various habitats including some gardens but, typically, it's a deciduous woodland millipede that lives in leaf-litter. Their body form makes them less prone to desiccation than other millipedes and, as such, they may be found in the open even on sunny days. They are a long-lived species with some individuals surviving for more than a decade.