Everyone is well doing good just re worked there substrate was getting a little thin but here some pics
The larger millipedes in the photo are Narceus gordanus millipedes. They are an attractive and hardy millipede, even if they spend most of their time burrowed in the substrate.
Those are definitely not Chicobolus spinigerus / Ivory millipedes. Yours are Narceus gordanus / Smoky Oak millipedes -- one of the thickest species in the U.S. (as you can see in your photo) and endemic to Florida. Ivory millipedes can also be found in Florida (as well as the southeastern U.S. more generally) but are smaller and quite distinctive in appeared (see link below).
Agreed! They are delicate but uniquely beautiful millipedes!
Would you mind posting a photo of them? I am working on collecting millipedes from all over North America and am curious to see what species you describe.
Good luck! I look forward to seeing what else you find!
There are indeed many millipede species in Florida, but some quite specific in their habitat.
Cool, just sharing as I like to know where the millipedes I keep come from and I wasn't sure how common knowledge that was (I've been studying Hoffman's 1999 list and reading the primary literature of the past few decades).
Yes, I agree, it is fun to find them -- the link was primarily for the benefit of @Jerry since it sounds like he has far fewer local millipedes to be found. You might search BugGuide for millipedes found in Florida as this may give you more ideas of where to look.
I was pleasantly surprised at how many millipedes can be found in Texas, if only one knows where and WHEN to look! Under logs and among hardwood leaves such as oak are always good places to look, but there may also be some millipedes in habitats that you would not expect. The Floridobolus millipedes, for instance, can be found in sandy areas with juniper and rosemary -- two plants I would not normally think to find millipedes around.
That is strange. I wonder what is in these homes or businesses that leads to an infestation of millipedes? I would think that most would not even be able to survive in the average air-conditioned building and would die of desiccation. I know some millipedes, including another species introduced from Asia, Oxidus gracilus, infest greenhouses because the warm moist climate suits them and they feed on the manure used as fertilizer. In any case, it is at worst a nuisance, not like certain beetles which have been introduced which infest and kill native trees.
True, but not surprising. The non-native species were introduced by humans and many tend to spread along with them. I could find no isopods in the native forest but they can be found in abundance around buildings and neighborhoods. They may be throughout San Antonio err long with all the slash-and-burn "development" that is going on.
I am not saddened by the isopods spreading, but by the local fauna's destruction and can only hope that the natives are able to recolonize. Otherwise, like you, people will only find the introduced species around them and that is a sad thing. From my experience, the N. gordanus are far hardier. C. spinigerus are especially nice because they are usually on top of the substrate and I am trying to find conditions to not only keep them healthy, but encourage reproduction. They are supposed to be easier than other species that I have been successful with. Me too!!! There are very few dealers that have more than one or two species for sale and many native species are impossible to find, much less imports (actually, I don't believe anyone sells imported millipedes but the descendants of those who were successfully bred before imports were senselessly banned -- it is a shame that more were not established in the hobby first!). I have not heard that the ban was lifted but I HOPE that I am wrong! It is stupid, as most such laws are. Of the many introduced millipedes, not a single one was through the pet trade and besides, millipedes are harmless (not that I would excuse someone releasing a non-native pet into the wild, even if "only" for the sake of that animal).
Again, me too!
Some species are very easy to breed in captivity, some are only easy under the right conditions, if that makes sense, while others are difficult just to keep alive in captivity, much less get to reproduce.Indeed! Nor would I! But there are always exceptions as it is of course advantageous to be able to live where many cannot -- less competition.That's interesting, I wouldn't think sandy areas = millipedes. I'll have to do some research to figure out good times of the year to find other species and such where I live. And just generally where to look. I'm sure I can find other species, if I just keep at it
One of the Polydesmid millipedes I keep, Harpaphe haydeniana, was stressed and constantly pacing until I added wood, needles and little cones from the Douglas Fir -- then they were quite happy. To not only tolerate but require debris from a conifer not something one expects of a millipede! I would be interested in at least knowing about (and possibly purchasing or trading for) any Spirobolids that you find. I would like to know where this millipede comes from:
I only know that they come from Florida and are definitely Spirobolids, probably Spirobolidae. They may be a new color morph of the Narceus americanus-annularis complex, but they are smaller, quite different in color and may be too far south but I don't know even what county they are from, unfortunately.Happy to help!
It is appalling how bad some vendors are with their info! At least C. spinigerus (Ivories) and N. gordanus (Smoky Oaks) have similar husbandry requirements! One person on this forum was sold golden Orthoporus ornatus (a large desert-adapted species from New Mexico and western Texas) as a Bumblebee millipede! I keep several species that grow little larger than an inch in length and one that is only a few millimeters in size.