### Identification Commonly known as the "False Flat-back Millipede," *Anamastigona pulchella* is a master of understated elegance. Measuring between 14mm and 20mm, it possesses a slender, slightly flattened body composed of 30 segments. Its coloration is a delicate translucent cream or pale yellow, accented by two distinct longitudinal rows of brownish-pink spots that give it a "striped" appearance. To distinguish it from true flat-backs (Polydesmida), look for the macrochaetae—conspicuous, stiff bristles arranged in groups of three on the sides of each segment. Under a hand lens, you’ll also spot its large, dark ocelli (eyes) arranged in a triangular patch, a feature many other soil-dwelling millipedes lack.
### Habitat & Range Originally a Mediterranean native from Italy and France, this resilient traveler has successfully naturalized across North-Western Europe, particularly in the UK and Ireland. It is a "synanthropic" species, meaning it thrives near humans. You’ll most likely find it in damp garden leaf litter, under urban hedgerows, or tucked beneath rotting logs in deciduous woodlands. It prefers alkaline soils but is remarkably adaptable to various lowland environments.
### Behaviour Unlike the slow, rhythmic crawl of many millipedes, *A. pulchella* is surprisingly "zippy." When disturbed, it scuttles with an agility that can startle an observer. It is a winter specialist; while other invertebrates hibernate, this species is most active from late autumn through spring. You may even find them wandering on the surface of leaf litter during damp, chilly February mornings.
### Diet As a dedicated detritivore, *A. pulchella* serves as part of the forest floor’s cleanup crew. It feeds primarily on decaying plant matter, fungal hyphae, and softened leaf tissues, processing organic waste into nutrient-rich soil.
### Fascinating Fact Despite their many legs, these millipedes are secret "spinsters." Members of the order Chordeumatida possess silk glands at the tip of their abdomen. They use these spinnerets to weave intricate silk chambers for molting or to create protective silken "tents" for their eggs!