The seasonal activity and method of the research on the forest floor of the adult train millipede Parafontaria laminata (Attems, 1909) (Diplopoda: Xystodesmidae)

• Published in: Edaphologia no. 73
• Main Authors: Hashimoto, M. (Yokohama National Univ. (Japan)), Kaneko, N, Ito, M.T, Toyota, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: 29.08.2003
• Subjects: ADULTS; DIPLOPODA; FORESTS; SEX RATIO; TEMPERATURE; TRAPS
• ISSN: 0389-1445; 2189-8499
• DOI: 10.20695/edaphologia.73.0_19

Abstract The seasonal activity and method of the research on the forest floor of the adult train millipede Parafontaria laminata (Attems, 1909) (Diplopoda: Xystodesmidae). Minori Hashimoto, Nobuhiro Kaneko. Masamichi T. Ito, Ayu Toyota (Soil Ecology Research Group. Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai. Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, 240-8501 Japan). The seasonal walking activity of a periodical millipede adult Parafontaria laminata on the forest floor was investigated by using pitfall traps. Their activity was divided into a swarming and a reproduction season before and after winter. The activity of the adults was influenced by air temperature in swarming season. However, in the reproduction season, the activity was extremely small and did not refrected air temperature. The adults moved to the upward direction of the slope toward the end of the swarming season. The sex ratio of the active individuals was nearly 1 : 1 in the swarming season, whereas more males were trapped in the reproduction season. The pitfall trap was effective for evaluation of swarming of the train millipede.