Eight-year periodical outbreaks of the train millipede

Periodical cicadas are the only confirmed periodical animals with long life cycles. In Japan, however, 8-year periodicity had been suggested in a species of train millipedes that had frequently obstructed trains in the central mountainous region of Honshu, Japan. This species was identified as Parafontaria laminata armigera Verhoeff (Diplopoda: Xystodesmidae), which is endemic to Japan. We finally confirmed the 8-year periodicity of this millipede using detailed surveys of life histories over 8 years. Seven broods were recognized, with almost no overlaps in their distributions. We also report the historical outbreaks and train obstructions of this millipede during 1920-2016. This is the first confirmed case of periodical non-insect arthropods.

Automated summary

Periodical cicadas are the only confirmed periodical animals with long life cycles, while in Japan, an 8-year periodicity has been suggested in a species of train millipedes, the first confirmed case of periodical non-insect arthropods.