Millipedes (Diplopoda) in birds nests

Nests of birds represent an unusual microhabitat for diverse groups of soil and epigeic invertebrates including millipedes. The millipede faunas of 301 birds nests from 63 localities throughout Slovakia were obtained by heat extraction of the nest substrates. In total 18 species of millipedes were found in 7 different types of nests of 40 bird species. The most frequent millipede species were Polyxenus lagurus and Proteroiulus fuscus. The similarities in the millipede nidifauna depending on the type of nests, ecological characteristics and geographical distribution of millipede species are discussed.