12 replies to this topic

[FeedTheAnts]

I've starting trying to make a collection of other bugs to keep and knew that there are a lot of Millipedes around my place. It only took me about twenty minutes to catch multiple specimens of two different species. I hope they breed and that soon I can have  thriving culture.

Also, please let me know if you know what the darker species inside the little clear container are. 

 

Edited by TennesseeAnts, February 12 2018 - 5:07 PM.

[Salmon]

First picture is a bunch of flatbacked millipedes, Pseudopolydesmus sp.

 

Second pic looks like a stone centipede, Lithobius. Stone centipedes are aggressive predators but not cannibalistic.

[Connectimyrmex]

I'm going to break my millipede-hating rule and say that your collection looks pretty cool. Now I kind of want to give millipedes a second chance.

[FeedTheAnts]

First picture is a bunch of flatbacked millipedes, Pseudopolydesmus sp.

 

Second pic looks like a stone centipede, Lithobius. Stone centipedes are aggressive predators but not cannibalistic.

Thanks! Ya, those Stone centipedes are very aggressive, definitely noticed that!

 

I'm going to break my millipede-hating rule and say that your collection looks pretty cool. Now I kind of want to give millipedes a second chance.

Why would you hate Millipedes in the first place? I think they are a lot like ants in some ways.

[Connectimyrmex]

 

First picture is a bunch of flatbacked millipedes, Pseudopolydesmus sp.

 

Second pic looks like a stone centipede, Lithobius. Stone centipedes are aggressive predators but not cannibalistic.

Thanks! Ya, those Stone centipedes are very aggressive, definitely noticed that!

 

I'm going to break my millipede-hating rule and say that your collection looks pretty cool. Now I kind of want to give millipedes a second chance.

Why would you hate Millipedes in the first place? I think they are a lot like ants in some ways.

 

I've always kind of disliked them overall. They killed one of my first ant colonies (one sprayed cyanide onto the nest [don't put the larger species of millipedes in terrariums with ants] when the guards bit its legs). I wrote about it on a different post. Also millipedes can cause the following:
1. temporary skin discoloration

2. potential mucus membrane damage

 

Plus, they smell bad.

 

Otherwise, millipedes are okay. 

How are they like ants? True, they exhibit parental care, but what else?

 

Anyways, I just went outside and caught a few millipedes in my yard to kind of break my fear. How are you keeping yours?

Edited by Connectimyrmex, November 18 2017 - 12:24 PM.

[FeedTheAnts]

 

How are they like ants? True, they exhibit parental care, but what else?

 

They are very social insects usually, and my Stone Centipedes hunt down bugs I put in their enclosure and eat them in much the same way ants would. You can also keep a culture of them alive for a long time as long as there are egg laying females. I like to think of my little groups of Millipedes as being like colonies(apart from a few differences obviously).

[TennesseeAnts]

I LOVE millipedes! I used to have one. His name was munchy.  
He did not get as big as yours before he.........went to a better place....        

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, November 25 2017 - 2:06 PM.

[FeedTheAnts]

The flat backed millipedes mostly died out because it got a tiny bit too dry. They were fine one day and then the next they had dried out. All three of the Stone Centipedes are still alive and well. I may be making some sort of terrarium for them in the future. I wonder if there is any way to get them to breed, does anyone know about centipede breeding?

[AntsAreUs]

From what I've heard, you're supposed to pair a male and female together and they should mate. However that is for the larger centipedes, I'm unsure if this species will kill each other as Salmon said. The females will hold her eggs with her legs in a ball after they mate, or in a dug out hole in the dirt. If the female is disturbed or feels uneasy she may eat the eggs. Most will only breed in the warmer months in temperate regions. Keep both the centipedes and millipedes in a moist environment!

 

Question: Have you sexed these centipedes?

Edited by AntsAreUs, February 10 2018 - 2:00 PM.

[FeedTheAnts]

From what I've heard, you're supposed to pair a male and female together and they should mate. However that is for the larger centipedes, I'm unsure if this species will kill each other as Salmon said. The females will hold her eggs with her legs in a ball after they mate, or in a dug out hole in the dirt. If the female is disturbed or feels uneasy she may eat the eggs. Most will only breed in the warmer months in temperate regions. Keep both the centipedes and millipedes in a moist environment!

 

Question: Have you sexed these centipedes?

Thanks for your input. To answer your question, no, I have not determined the gender, and I don't know how. These Millipedes are really cool and fun and I would actually be okay at this point if they didn't breed. 

[AntsAreUs]

Millipedes should be fairly easy: Give them nutrient rich substrate with some leaf litter or other types of litter, the substrate will be their long term food. Then you can give them slices of fruit and such that aren't very acidic (apples). It may take a month or two but you should see babies. They are very similar to isopods when caring for them, just make sure it is constantly humid/moist.

Edited by AntsAreUs, February 10 2018 - 6:07 PM.

[Connectimyrmex]

I actually went against my normal code and captured a few baby Narceus. They love apples, and sometimes nibble on the baby sowbugs. The sowbugs always get away safely, but I think that its pretty funny that the millies mistake the sowbugs for plant matter xD

[FeedTheAnts]

Big surprise!!!! There's babies! They are so cute and tiny and completely white. I found them after the entire setup was knocked off of the table they were on

When I opened the container there were little babies running around. The two adults were not hurt.

Edited by TennesseeAnts, February 12 2018 - 4:54 PM.