First Record of Bristle Millipedes (Polyxenida: Lophoproctidae) from Treehole Microhabitats in Belize

To investigate invertebrate abundance, richness, and diversity in treehole microhabitats of northern Belize, detritus samples were collected from 15 treeholes each in rural and urban areas of the Corozal District during 2023 and 2024. Bristle millipedes (Order Polyxenida) were recorded in both urban and rural treeholes. This study represents the first documented record of Polyxenida in Belize, extending the known distribution of the family Lophoproctidae beyond Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama to include Belize. Furthermore, the occurrence of bristle millipedes within treehole microhabitats constitutes a novel habitat record for the region. Due to their minute size and cryptic behavior, polyxenids have often been overlooked in biodiversity surveys. Nevertheless, increased and targeted sampling efforts are likely to reveal greater polyxenid diversity in Belize and adjacent regions.