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Origin Are you planning to add a Bumblebee Millipede to your exotic pet collection? Then you’re on the right page! That’s a great choice because bumblebee millipedes are exciting animals and easy to care for! Bumblebee Millipede is a medium variety of millipede in Rhinocricidae family. They are also known as Yellow-banded millipedes because of the distinctive yellow patterns on its body. These species have the scientific name Anadenobolus monilicornis. These particular species have originated from the forests of the Caribbean, particularly in most areas of Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, Dominica, Puerto Rico, Haiti and other nearby places. According also to some observers, this type of millipede is seen as being crushed by other animals such as birds and monkeys. The later animal rubs the substance from the millipede on their bodies to repel the insects. Hence, the substance on their body has insect-repelling tendencies. Take note, however, that this animal is toxic. Hence, make sure they are out of reach by your children. If ever you touch it, make sure you thoroughly wash your hands to remove the toxin. They also have mites on their bodies due to their symbiotic relationship. Mites tend to feed on the waste around the legs of the millipedes. Appearance/Size Bumblebee millipedes are called such because of the black and yellow pattern on every segment of their body. These patterns resemble that of a bumblebee. The band is bright yellow in color with an alternate black line in the same segment. This animal has 2 pairs of legs in each body segment and is tinted with vibrant red-to-pink hues. Their fascinating antennae have the same hue as their legs. The antennae are attached to their head which is above their mouth and have a sensory purpose for finding their prey. Some sensory function of the antennae includes smell, touch and hearing. Compared to other types of millipede, bumblebees are relatively small ranging in size from 2.5 to 3 inches upon maturity. There are also some who are extremely smaller due to other factors such as malnutrition and poor handling. Habitat In the wild, thesis animals usually hide or burrow on rotting wood, leaves or logs on the forest floors. They also love the shady and moist areas of the forest. They hide in these places. Bumblebee millipedes are creatures in the ecosystem which take charge of cleaning out the trash in the environment. Basically, they are detritivores which feed on decaying organic matter and are responsible for its decomposition. They are significant animals in the preservation of our environment. What they eat Bumblebee millipede feeds on decaying organic matter in the forest floors. Basically, they feed on the substrate so make sure the same is of high quality and free from chemicals and other harmful elements. Adding a few fish food flakes or rabbit pellets once every week provide them with calcium and other essential minerals. You can also give supplemental foods such as fresh fruits or green leafy vegetables as a source of vitamins and nutrition to keep the thriving and healthy. Although they are accustomed to feeding decaying matter, wasted food should be removed since it will attract other insects in the enclosure. You can feed your millipede at least every other 3 days but this will also depend on the number of millipedes in your tank. Once your notice that the feeds are gone, you can always add a new and fresh one. Once in a while, place rotten logs or leaves on the substrate. They also feed on these matters. How long do they live This animal has a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. As long as they are kept in a conducive environment with enough substrate to feed on, they will last for a long period of time. To make them last longer, make sure you feed them nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits and other leafy greens to optimize their health and strengthen their immune system from diseases. Also, make sure that their environment is correctly set up since poor living condition is detrimental on their part. Type of enclosure In captivity, they can be kept in containers or terrariums which is great for retaining humidity. The house of the millipede should be of a proper size to keep them healthy and active. In choosing the size of the tank, the width or the floor must be the primary consideration since they primarily stay there. They are not arboreal so the length is immaterial. As recommended, an 18 by 18 by 12 enclosure works best for them. In setting up the enclosure, make sure it’s well-ventilated. It should have holes in the front panel as well as in the top panels. The tank should be designed to retain moisture. The substrate for the enclosure can be made of wood and leaves with a mixture of soil. A high-quality substrate is significant since this is where they live and feed. In placing the substrate, it should be at least 4 inches deep and the bottom must be completely moist in order to sustain the humidity a the top portion of the substrate. Humidity inside the rank must be in the range of 70-80 percent. This is relatively high since this animal came from the forest with high humidity all year round. To enhance the humidity of the tank, you may add sphagnum moss at the top of the substrate. You can also mist it with chlorine-free water once a day. The temperature, on the other hand, has to be between 72 to 78 Fahrenheit. Heating may be enhanced by using lighting or placing a heating pad at the bottom of the warm area in the enclosure. Sexing/Breeding It’s not difficult to breed this animal since your can place them all together in the same setup. Make sure there are adult males to lead the reproduction process. The sex of this animal can be determined once they reach adult size or ⅓ of its adult size. Males are usually recognized by their gonopods, a male reproductive organ of this animal. They are located on the third or seventh segment of their body, depending also on the species of the millipedes. This is a small attachment near the base of the legs. The absence of gonopods indicate that your bumblebee is a female. Once the sexes are identified, you should stimulate them for the breeding stage. To do this, they must be provided with a high-quality substrate with lots of decaying organic materials. The substrate must also be deep enough, at least 4 inches to support the laying of eggs. Remember that these animals tend to burrow. If the substrate is too shallow, they may not properly lay eggs. Substrates must also be damp but not completely soaked! If it’s too dry, they will not also lay eggs or if they lay eggs, they same will just die due to dryness. Lastly, cover the substrate with a pile of leaves to keep them reproducing. Don’t mix the leaves on the substrates to avoid damaging the eggs or the millipedes. Final Thoughts Bumblebee millipedes are stunning animals that you could enjoy in the comforts of your homes. They are easy to care for and not difficult to handle or breed. They are also low maintenance since you can just feed them with organic matter such as leaves or decaying logs. This animal is also a natural cleaner. Hence they can perfectly maintain their house. However, removing wasted food should be observed to prevent other insects such as ants from roaming inside their tank. Since this animal feeds on the substrate, make sure that the same is free from chemicals and other harmful elements. These animals are fragile especially to the harsh effects of chemicals on their bodies. Exposure to chemicals is detrimental to them as their body is only designed to feed on organic matter.

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