LITHOBIUS AND ITS ALLIES 



11 



The members of this genus crawl rather slowly, and 

 when at rest coil the body. When disturbed they give 

 out a strong odor through lateral open- 

 ings of the body. They feed on dead 

 snails and earthworms ; some species, 

 on ears of Indian corn or strawberries. 

 Their eggs are laid in holes in the _,. 



oo FIG. 7b. Jtilus cana- 



ground in the spring ; consequently densis. Nat. size, 

 they may be easily dug up at this P^oto. by W.H.C.P. 

 season. One of the common Eastern species of North 

 America is Julus (^Parajulus) canadensis, which is dark 

 brown or black above, has sides spotted with yellow, and 

 nearly colorless feet, and is about 20 to 25 millimetres 

 long (Fig. 76). Spirobolus is a large 

 species, 10 to 12 centimetres long. 



Polydesmus l includes much-flattened 

 species, which, when disturbed, roll up 

 spirally. P. canadensis, of the northern 

 United States, is deep brown, with 

 pubescent antennae. These myriapods 

 are somewhat destructive to agricul- 

 ture, especially to cabbage and straw- 

 berries. 



Two genera of myriapods which 

 stand somewhat isolated deserve a 



FIG. 77. Polydesmus 



canadensis (= P. serra- passing notice, rauropus J and allied 



WH c 1 ?' Photo>by genera include a few animals about 



1 millimetre long, found on the moist 



loam of woods. They are intermediate between chilopods 



and diplopods, inasmuch as they have only one pair of legs 



1 7roXi/5e0-/ios : TroAtfs, much ; 5eo>i6s, band. 



2 Traupos, small ; TTO^S, foot. 



