13. Archiboreoiulus pallidus (Brade-Birks, 1920)

Proteroiulus pallidus Brade-Birks, 1920.

Boreoiulus pallidus auct.

Distribution

BE, CH, DE, DK-DEN, ES-SPA, FI, FR-FRA, GB-CI, GB-GRB, GB-NI, HU, IE, LU, NL, NO-NOR, PL, RO, RU-KDG, RU-RUC, RU-RUW, SE, SK, UA. Central, N & E Europe. –Also found in Stavropol, northern Caucasus, Russia (Zuev 2014) and introduced into Canada and USA.

Habitat

Endogean and troglophile, it has been found mainly in the soil, especially in loamy calcareous and other base-rich types. It is also synanthropic, especially in northern and eastern regions, found in forests, cultivated fields, grassland, gardens, garden waste, spoil heaps, etc.

Remarks

It is often associated with Blaniulus guttulatus and is similarly regarded as an agricultural pest in several root crops (Pierrard & Biernaux 1974). Its vertical migrations in the soil were described by Biernaux & Baurant (1964). Some parthenogenetic populations exist in the northern part of its European range, as well as in Canada. Prisnyi (2001) stated that all Russian populations appear to be male-free and largely anthropochoric. Regarded as highly endangered in Germany (Voigtländer et al. 2011).