With their vivid yellow and black stripes, bumblebee millipedes are a striking species in the southeastern United States. Despite their bold coloration, which serves as a warning to potential predators, these millipedes are completely harmless to humans. This article will take you on a journey into the fascinating life of this species, uncovering their unique characteristics, habitats, and the vital role they play in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Diplopoda
Order: Spirobolida
Family: Rhinocricidae
Genus: Anadenobolus
They have the color of bumblebees
Bumblebee millipedes, aka the yellow-banded millipede, are small and colorful millipede species that belong to the family Spirostreptidae. They are characterized by their striking yellow, black, and brown coloration, which gives them a distinctive appearance reminiscent of bumblebees. These species can grow up to 10 cm (3.9 in) in length.
They have smooth, oval-shaped segmented bodies with up to 8 pinkish legs per segment, 2 long pinkish antennae and two short ones, which they use to explore and sense their environment. Their forceps-like mandibles are used for grabbing and cutting their food. The underside of their body has two respiratory openings, or spiracles, that they use to breathe.
These millipedes are docile and easy to take care of. That’s the reason why they become popular pets.
Bumblebee millipede habitat
This millipede type comes from Suriname, the Greater Antilles, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and Brazil. However, it has been introduced and is now invasive in Florida.
In their natural habitat, they live in areas with dense, humid forests, where they spend most of their lives tucked away in the damp, leafy undergrowth. They are often found near water sources and areas protected from excessive sun exposure.
In captivity, they can be kept in a well-ventilated, humid enclosure with a temperature range of 20-24°C (98-75°F) and a substrate of wood pieces, leaf litter, and mulch. This setup mimics their natural environment and provides them with the necessary food and shelter.
Diet
Bumblebee millipedes are detritivores, meaning they primarily eat decaying plant matter and organic debris. Their diet can include decaying leaf litter, fallen fruit, (mangos, guavas, and bananas), seeds, feces, dead invertebrates, mushrooms, decaying leaves, and other plant material.
These species are scavengers and search for food at night, using their nocturnal behavior to blend in with their surroundings.
Life cycle
Bumblebee millipedes are not seasonal breeders and can lay eggs throughout the year. Mating is conducted face-to-face, and the pair often remains coupled for a long time. Females lay eggs in a burrow or protected area. The eggs hatch into larvae after 3 weeks to months, depending on environmental conditions and food availability.
The young look similar to adults but are smaller in size. They will ingest fecal pellets from the adults, which provide them with the bacteria contained therein. Juveniles only bear one pair of legs per segment at first, and their color develops over the first 6 months of development.
These larvae shed and molt their exoskeletons several times, each time developing more segments and legs and growing larger and closer in size to adults.
Once the larvae reach maturity, they typically spend their time foraging for food and searching for mates. They have an average lifespan of 3-5 years, although some can live up to 7 years.
