Dwarf white isopod observations - Trichorhina tomentosa

[Pssh]

I was looking at my colony and decided I wanted to see if I could tell if the females were carrying young. As I was looking at them, I indeed could tell which ones were carrying just developing eggs and which were about to drop. I forced the ones with fully developed young to drop them and counted an average of 9 babies from each fully grown female. The young were only just a tiny bit smaller than A. vulgare new borns.

I just thought I would share my observations. Share any observations that you've noticed if you have any!

 

[Bugs In Cyberspace]

One of the sometimes habits of this species is to play dead when disturbed. It confuses a lot of customers that think their bugs are DOA. The jungle micropods (another dwarf species) are much more active and don't play dead, though the whites appear plenty active if you sneak up on them.

 

[Pssh]

I've noticed that too. When I go digging around in their tubs I have to displace the substrate and wait a little. They start to crawl around then.

 

[Bugs In Cyberspace]

Spraying the surface of the substrate with a fine mist seems to promote activity too.