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A post by pdfDMD post got me thinking about the life cycles of millipedes and centipedes, and about the differences between the two, so I did a bit of digging.
Millipedes
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The most common millipedes are dark brown and reach 1 to 1 1/2 inches when full grown. They are round and elongated, with many small legs. They are slow moving, having two pairs per body segment, except for the first three segments of their bodies, which have one pair each. Their legs are found underneath their bodies, ie. they can't be seen from above.
When dead or disturbed, they tend to curl into a tight coil.
Millipedes do not bite or pose any danger to us humans or our frogs. They are mostly scavengers, feeding on rotting organic matter such as leaves and wood. Rarely will they feed on tender green leaves and roots. While they will compete for food with our springtails and isopods, they will not usually our frog's eggs. They prefer to spend most of their time in moist areas, such as under rocks or logs and in lawn thatch. The right species of guys might make interesting additions to our tanks, but I thing only the young might end up as a food source.
Duff Millipede
There is one millipede that I found that might be useful as a food source. It is know as the Duff Millipede.
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Polyxenus lagurus
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It is an unusual species which is found primarily in damp pine forested areas particularly around the bark of certain trees and around black ants.
The critter reaches only 1/8 inch long and feeds on algae, fungi and decaying organic matter.
They look like tiny caterpillars as they are covered with fine bristles and have a tufts of hair protruding from their hind end. Superficially, they look similar to tiny carpet beetle larvae, but they have far more legs than do carpet beetles. Duff millipedes are harmless, their feeding habits would prevent them from damaging any household materials.
Duff millipedes go through seven immature stages, gradually increasing in size and segmentation with each molt, before reaching the adult form. Development of a common species that occurs in the cool forest conditions of Scandanavia (Polyxenus lagrus), they take about 10 months to reach the adult stage and adults live for about 3 months. Breeding may occur in spring and again in autumn producing two peaks of adult activity during the season. It is not known if this similar pattern is present among duff millipedes in the western states like Colorado and Wyoming.
Unlike most millipedes the body of the duff is not hardened (calcified) and they lack chemical defenses. They protect themselves from attack by means of the hairs that protrude from the tip of the abdomen which are hooked and can readily detach when the duff millipede is attacked.
Because they like damp environments, and because they are a scavenger, feeding on mold, algae and fungi under and around the bark of conifer trees (and a few other trees), and because they don't have the typical chemical defenses, I think they might do well as another food source along with springtails and isopods if we can cultivate them.
These guys might be great in our tanks, feeding on Bark mulch, or ABG Mix.
The only draw back I see is their long, 10 month maturation / life cycle. They do seem to have a bloom in the correct conditions because they will invade a home in high numbers looking for water. They die off quickly if they don't find a moisture source.
Home invasion Question
Centipedes
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In general appearance, centipedes superficially resemble millipedes. However, there are many important differences. entipedes have one pair of legs per body segment, while millipedes have two pairs on most of their segments. A centipede's legs are usually quite prominent, sticking out from the sides. Centipedes are fast, being far more active than millipedes. Most have bodies that are flattened and elongated. Being light phobic, they can be seen darting for cover when a light is turned on in a dark room.
Centipedes are mostly predatory, feeding on small Insects like springtails and isopods and other arthropods (the frog food we are trying to cultivate in our tanks). They are also known to eat frog eggs. These guys we do not want in our tanks.
Millipedes
The most common millipedes are dark brown and reach 1 to 1 1/2 inches when full grown. They are round and elongated, with many small legs. They are slow moving, having two pairs per body segment, except for the first three segments of their bodies, which have one pair each. Their legs are found underneath their bodies, ie. they can't be seen from above.
When dead or disturbed, they tend to curl into a tight coil.
Millipedes do not bite or pose any danger to us humans or our frogs. They are mostly scavengers, feeding on rotting organic matter such as leaves and wood. Rarely will they feed on tender green leaves and roots. While they will compete for food with our springtails and isopods, they will not usually our frog's eggs. They prefer to spend most of their time in moist areas, such as under rocks or logs and in lawn thatch. The right species of guys might make interesting additions to our tanks, but I thing only the young might end up as a food source.
Duff Millipede
There is one millipede that I found that might be useful as a food source. It is know as the Duff Millipede.
Polyxenus lagurus
It is an unusual species which is found primarily in damp pine forested areas particularly around the bark of certain trees and around black ants.
The critter reaches only 1/8 inch long and feeds on algae, fungi and decaying organic matter.
They look like tiny caterpillars as they are covered with fine bristles and have a tufts of hair protruding from their hind end. Superficially, they look similar to tiny carpet beetle larvae, but they have far more legs than do carpet beetles. Duff millipedes are harmless, their feeding habits would prevent them from damaging any household materials.
Duff millipedes go through seven immature stages, gradually increasing in size and segmentation with each molt, before reaching the adult form. Development of a common species that occurs in the cool forest conditions of Scandanavia (Polyxenus lagrus), they take about 10 months to reach the adult stage and adults live for about 3 months. Breeding may occur in spring and again in autumn producing two peaks of adult activity during the season. It is not known if this similar pattern is present among duff millipedes in the western states like Colorado and Wyoming.
Unlike most millipedes the body of the duff is not hardened (calcified) and they lack chemical defenses. They protect themselves from attack by means of the hairs that protrude from the tip of the abdomen which are hooked and can readily detach when the duff millipede is attacked.
Because they like damp environments, and because they are a scavenger, feeding on mold, algae and fungi under and around the bark of conifer trees (and a few other trees), and because they don't have the typical chemical defenses, I think they might do well as another food source along with springtails and isopods if we can cultivate them.
These guys might be great in our tanks, feeding on Bark mulch, or ABG Mix.
The only draw back I see is their long, 10 month maturation / life cycle. They do seem to have a bloom in the correct conditions because they will invade a home in high numbers looking for water. They die off quickly if they don't find a moisture source.
Home invasion Question
Centipedes
In general appearance, centipedes superficially resemble millipedes. However, there are many important differences. entipedes have one pair of legs per body segment, while millipedes have two pairs on most of their segments. A centipede's legs are usually quite prominent, sticking out from the sides. Centipedes are fast, being far more active than millipedes. Most have bodies that are flattened and elongated. Being light phobic, they can be seen darting for cover when a light is turned on in a dark room.
Centipedes are mostly predatory, feeding on small Insects like springtails and isopods and other arthropods (the frog food we are trying to cultivate in our tanks). They are also known to eat frog eggs. These guys we do not want in our tanks.
