Local Polydesmid season!
davehuth

Local Polydesmid season!

Each night this week I've been going out to my yard with a black light and I'm finding local polydesmids to collect and begin learning about. This is our local Sigmoria (Rudiloria) trimaculata trimaculata - large and plentiful around here. I hope to learn how we might bring it into the hobby.
What a lovely creature. Because I am unfortunately sizest about these, I have to ask how large they grow. And how exciting. I didn't know that they flouresce until you mentioned it here. Maybe I'll find some desert varieties when I'm out looking for scorpions this season. Just getting underway here in Arizona.
 
Hi @Dovey ! This one was just under 2 inches long, which seems close to the maximum size I've seen them. Some individuals in the genus on Bugguide are listed at 2.5 inches. I have to say that black light scanning the ground at night when the ground is damp is the easiest way I know to find them. For the past week I've spent hours turning logs every day, and found 1. Just last night I scanned with the light in a small area under the trees behind my house and found 6 in 20 minutes. It's definitely the way to go :) Have fun in the desert!
 
@Dovey Unfortunately I don't think there are any Xystodesmids that live in desert habitats and the small polydesmids found in dry places are most likely non-fluorescent. The desert does have Orthoporus, which in my opinion is a fair trade-off.
 

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