A routine bit of gardening turned into a record-breaking moment for a local mycologist who uncovered a rare, never-before-seen-in-Britain creature crawling among her flowers… the curiously named ‘Orange Bullet’.
Local mycologist Charlotte Shenkin was deadheading flowers in her garden when she came across the Western six striped millipede.
Nicknamed the ‘Oranje Vogel’ (Orange Bullet) in Dutch, the species – Glomeris intermedia – resembles a woodlouse with millipede legs.
It had never been officially recorded in Britain until Charlotte’s chance encounter.
After extensive observation and research about her find, Charlotte reached out to millipede expert Thomas Wesener, who confirmed the species – and, crucially, that it was the first British record of the millipede.
She then submitted the record to the Jersey Biodiversity Centre, which collates digital records about the Island’s flora and fauna for researchers, ecologists and nature-lovers alike.
Charlotte explained: “These pill millipedes have most likely been here all along. They aren’t new, it’s just our knowledge of them is new.
“I believe there are hundreds more species of plants, fungi, insects and others to be discovered in Jersey. All we need is to notice more and follow our curiosity to find them!”
“We have a huge diversity of habitats and in particular specialist habitats like sand dunes, coastal heathland, wet meadows etc. all in a very small space. We’re close enough to the French north coast that some species can easily migrate or be blown over here,” she added.
Last November, Charlotte won the prestigious National Biodiversity Network Newcomer Award for her work categorising mushrooms on the Island which included discovering the first record of the Russula stenocystidiata species of mushroom in the British Isles on a trip home from Jersey Zoo.
“One of the amazing things about natural sciences and biological recording is the way that anyone can join in,” Charlotte told Express.
“Everyone is welcome to do just what I had done and share their discoveries so they can learn more from the experts in that field.”
The Jersey Biodiversity Centre team said they were delighted about Charlotte’s latest find, noting: “Charlotte’s discovery highlights how special the biodiversity is on our island, and what wonders you can find right on your doorstep.”