The Life History and Ecology of the Littoral Centipede Strigamia (=scolioplanes) Maritima (Leach)*

The work here reported is of an investigation into the ecology and life history of a shore dwelling geophilomorph centipede Strigamia maritima (Leach). A method of determining the age of individuals and hence the life history, is described. By analysis of monthly samples it is shown that for the purposes of insemination, egg laying and moulting, individuals migrate from their feeding grounds, which are frequently covered by the tide, to a shingle bank where more terrestrial conditions prevail. The egg‐laying period is more restricted than in terrestrial species and takes place in May and June when spring tides are at their smallest amplitude and there is consequently least danger of the eggs being immersed. When animals in the feeding zone are covered by the tide they migrate out of this zone up into the shingle bank. It is concluded that the species is able to maintain itself in the intertidal zone only by virtue of the fact that non‐saline conditions prevail at the top of the beach for much of the year. Information on the prey, predators and parasites of S. maritima is given.