New Species of Millipede Discovered Underground in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — A new species of millipede has been discovered just below the surface of the bustling city of Los Angeles. Named the Los Angeles Thread Millipede, this tiny arthropod was found by naturalists in a hiking area near a freeway, a Starbucks, and an Oakley sunglasses store.
The Los Angeles Thread Millipede is about the length of a paperclip but as skinny as pencil lead. It has a translucent body and moves sinuously, resembling the tentacle of a jellyfish. This blind creature burrows four inches below the ground and relies on hornlike antennas on its head to navigate its surroundings.
With its 486 legs and helmet-like head, the millipede resembles a creature straight out of a Hollywood monster film when viewed under a microscope. Researchers from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, West Virginia University, and the University of California, Berkeley were part of the team that made this fascinating discovery.
The findings on this species, scientifically known as Illacme socal, were published in the journal ZooKeys on June 21. The vernacular name for this millipede is the Los Angeles Thread Millipede. Entomologist Paul Marek described the discovery as evidence of an undiscovered world underground.
The Los Angeles Thread Millipede joins other millipede species found in California, including one that held the record for the most legs of any creature until recently. This previous record-holder, Illacme plenipes, had a whopping 750 limbs. However, it was dethroned in 2021 by a millipede with 1,306 legs found in Australia.
Millipedes play a crucial role in ecosystems as they feed on dead organic material. Without them, the environment would be overrun with waste. Marek emphasized the importance of protecting these species to maintain the balance of nature.
The discovery of the Los Angeles Thread Millipede was made possible through the iNaturalist app, which allows citizen naturalists to contribute to scientific research. Naturalists Cedric Lee and James Bailey posted a photo of the millipede they found while collecting slugs at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park four years ago. Through DNA sequencing and analysis, the team confirmed that it was indeed a new species.
Lee, a doctoral student at UC Berkeley, believes that microorganisms have been neglected in the search for new species. He highlighted the power of citizen science in bridging the gap between the natural world and scientific laboratories. Lee stated, “We don’t know what’s completely out there. There’s literally undescribed species right under our feet.”
Scientists estimate that there are around 10 million animal species on Earth, but only one million have been discovered so far. Brian Brown, curator of entomology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, emphasized the vast amount of unknown species in the world. Brown estimates that there are approximately 20,000 species of insects in Los Angeles alone, both discovered and undiscovered.
However, researchers and experts are concerned about the threats facing these native species, such as climate change and invasive species. Daniel Gluesenkamp, president of the California Institute for Biodiversity, emphasized the need to invest in local parks and preserve any remaining patches of wild land. Gluesenkamp believes that knowing what species exist is essential for protecting them and finding solutions to future challenges.
The discovery of the Los Angeles Thread Millipede highlights the untapped potential of exploration in our own backyards. As scientists continue to uncover new species, it becomes increasingly clear that there is much more to be discovered beneath our feet.