Do Bumblebee millipedes glow in the dark with blacklight?

[Oswoc]

See title...

I've been googling for ages and can't find any info on this specific species RE blacklight...

Yes or no answer is fine

Thanks!

 

[goliathusdavid]

No harm in trying it, but most likely no. It hasn't been documented before, the only millipede species fluorescence which has been extensively studied is that of members of the Pseudopolydesmus genus whose genitalia glow under UV. You can check that out here. More interesting however is the bioluminescence (SO COOL) of the Motyxia species which straight up glow in the dark. A USA native too!
Heck, I'd still put a blacklight on Anadenobolus monilcornis (even though it probably won't yield any results). Why not? If there's one thing we've discovered in the past year, its that A LOT of stuff glows under UV that we didn't think did, from Platypus to numerous lizard species.

Edit: Also want to note just for the sake of fun that Motyxia are cyanide producing for extra good times

 

[Jumbie Spider]

Yes, I've seen videos of it on YouTube. I plan on trying one of these days myself.

 

[Jumbie Spider]

UV 365nm

 

[goliathusdavid]

UV 365nm

Really cool species, but not Anadenobolus monilcornis. Not sure what species but definitely a Polydesmid based on body structure. Only some species fluoresce, I don't believe Bumblebees happen to be one of them but still worth a try as I previously wrote.

 

[Jumbie Spider]

the only millipede species fluorescence which has been extensively studied is that of members of the Pseudopolydesmus genus whose genitalia glow under UV.

From that vid it appears the entire millipede is fluorescent not just the genitals?

But I have no idea about if a particular species does vs another.

 

[goliathusdavid]

From that vid it appears the entire millipede is fluorescent not just the genitals?

But I have no idea about if a particular species does vs another.

Definitely agree that the individual in the video is entirely flourescent. To be honest, there is precious little scientific research on this. What we know for sure is that some species bioluminesce, other fluoresce partially, and likely others fully. I would however, be incredibly surprised if fluorescence occurred in most common hobby species. But hey, I'm certainly not one to tell you not to shine a blacklight on everything - that's what all the scientists are doing