Myriapods (Myriapoda). Chapter 7.2

Alien myriapods in Europe have never been subject to a comprehensive review. Currently, 40 species belonging to 23 families and 11 orders can be regarded as alien to Europe, which accounts approximately for about 1.8% of all species known on the continent. Millipedes (Class Diplopoda) are represented by 20 alien species, followed by centipedes (Class Chilopoda) with 16, symphylans with 3 and pauropods with only 1. In addition there are numerous cases of continental species introduced to the Atlantic and Mediterranean islands or others of southern origin transported and established in North European cities. Th e earliest record of an alien myriapod dates back to 1836, although the introduction of some species into Europe could have begun already in historical times with an increase in trade between ancient Greeks and Romans with cities in the Near East and North Africa. In post-medieval times this process should have intensifi ed with the trade between Europe and some tropical countries, especially after the discoveries of the Americas and Australia. Th e largest number of alien myriapods (25, excl. intercepted) has been recorded from Great Britain, followed by Germany with 12, France with 11 and Denmark with 10 species. In general, northern and economically more developed countries with high levels of imports and numerous busy sea ports are richer in alien species. Th e various alien myriapods have diff erent origins, but most of them show tropical or subtropical links (28 species, 70%). Eight of them (20%) are widespread in the Tropical and Subtropical belts, eleven (circa 28%) are of Asian origin, seven show links with South and Central America, and one each originates from North America, North Africa, Australasia, and islands in