A Preliminary Ecological Study on Certain Deciduous Forest Centipedes

In February, 1946, the writer began a study of the chilopocl population in Trelease and Brownfield Woods, belonging to the University of Illinois. These are two deciduous forest areas in which red oak, maple, and elm are prominent, located about five miles northeast of Urbana, Illinois. This undertaking was aided by the use of chilopod population data, based on quantitative collections made in Trelease Woods by the Department of Zoology and the Graduate School over a period of about thirteen years. Within the time available an attempt was made to determine whether there were any differences in the reactions of the different species of centipedes to various environmental factors. The life-histories and taxonomy of the chiopods of these forest areas were also investigated with a view to learn something of their importance in the community.