Anadenobolus monilicornis, known as the yellow-banded millipede or bumblebee millipede, is a species of millipede in the family Rhinocricidae. At present, there are 528 nominal species and 23 subspecies of Rhinocricidae placed in 27 genera and 3 subgenera.
TRAITS. The yellow-banded millipede, often called the bumblebee millipede, is bilaterally symmetrical, with a segmented body. A single pair of antennae, the mandibles and the gnathochilarium constitutes the head of Anadenobolus monilicornis. The mandibles are enlarged and specialized for chewing. The head is rounded, followed by an elongated cylindrical trunk (thorax and abdomen) composed of segments or rings. The first segment is wide and lacks legs. Each thoracic segment has a single pair of legs, whereas each abdominal segment has two pairs of segmented legs. The most posterior unit of the body (telson) bears the anal opening and lacks legs. On each abdominal segment, there are two pairs of spiracles, which allow air to be delivered to the trachea. In males, the gonopores lie directly at the base of the legs.
The color of these millipedes is striking with black with variable yellowish to lime-green bands, red legs, and red antennae. The bumblebee millipede measure approximately 3 centimeters (1.0–1.2 in) long. There are reports of them growing a body size up to 10cm (4″), but most will be around 7.5cm (3″). The cuticular exoskeleton is hard, containing protein, lipid, and chitin, as well as calcium carbonate, and is secreted by the underlying epidermis. The exoskeleton sheds at intervals (known as ecdysis).
DISTRIBUTION. The bumblebee millipede is native to the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil but introduced/invasive in Florida.
FOOD AND FEEDING. These millipedes are generalist and opportunistic detritivores, which feed on a variety of decaying plant material colonized by microbial decomposers usually bacteria and fungi. The millipede walks on the soil surface, occasionally climbing on dead wood, and burrowing through the soil and leaf litter, rummaging for food. They are involved in ecosystem nutrient cycling and consume approximately 5-10% of annual leaf litter production, and up to 25% when other invertebrates such as earthworms are scarce (Contreras and Cafaro, 2013).
REPRODUCTION. Very little information has been published about reproduction in this species. Mating is conducted face to face, and the pair often remains coupled for a long time. The female lays her eggs in a nest and guards them carefully (Hickman et al., 2003). The number of eggs is variable. The young will ingest fecal pellets from the adults, which provides them with the bacteria contained therein.
BEHAVIOR. Juveniles only bear one pair of legs per segment, as well as lack color within the first few months of development (up to 6 months), after which their color develops. Each shed (ecdysis) leads to the development of more segments and legs. Juveniles are very difficult to distinguish from adults when they have attained their color. Bumblebee millipedes are not dangerous, don’t bite, and are harmless to humans. However, remember that a millipede can secrete toxic and irritating fluids when feeling threatened.
They are slow-moving and very calm animals. They are docile and can be handled when careful. Because of the secretion of irritating fluids, you should always wash your hands after handling them, or wear plastic gloves. Also, when they fall you can damage your millipede, which can eventually cause them to die, so please handle them responsibly.
Although you can handle them without posing a danger, you should consider that they do not like to be picked up or touched. Often you see millipedes curl up to protect themself from any harm or danger. This behavior is a sign of stress, so make sure you don’t pick them up or handle them too often.
Bumblebee millipedes seem to be attracted to light and are quite often above ground wandering around. However, sometimes they like to bury themselves and particularly do that when they are ready to molt. Do not dig them up because this is very stressful for them, and you can damage your millipede when molting or when they just have been molted (and their exoskeleton still needs to harden).
APPLIED ECOLOGY. Bumblebee millipedes are kept and bred in captivity, sold, and utilized as pets. They are regulated by the USDA APHIS department and require a permit to ship across state lines. According to the USDA and Florida Wildlife officials' infestations do occur in Florida, where the millipedes are present in large numbers. They enter buildings and houses but die quickly due to the dry conditions (lack of humidity).
-Everything you need to know about the bumblebee millipede, Anadenobolus monilicornis. This article contains factual information from reputable online sources and my own first hand observations. All photos are from Desirea Santillana, owner of The Great Invertebrate.-
REFERENCES
Contreras, K. and Cafaro, M. J. (2013). Morphometric Studies in Enterobryus luteovirgatus sp. nov. (Ichthyosporea: Eccrinales) Associated with Yellow-banded Millipedes in Puerto Rico. Acta Protozool. 52: 291–297.
Gabel, K., Hunsberger, A., Mannion, C., Buss, L. and Buss. E. (2006). Yellow-banded Millipede. http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/mannion/pdfs/Yellow-bandedMillipede.pdf, downloaded 10 March 2016.
Hickman, C. P., Roberts, L. S. and Larson, A. (2003). Animal Diversity. New York: McGraw-Hill. Minelli, A. (2015). Treatise on Zoology-Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology, The Myriapoda, Volume 2. Boston:
Brill. Shelly, R. (2014). A consolidated account of the polymorphic Caribbean milliped, Anadenobolus monilicornis (Porat, 1876) (Spirobolida: Rhinocricidae), with illustrations of the holotype. Insecta Mundi. 0378: 1-12.
Tuf, I. H. (2006). Diurnal epigeic activity of myriapods (Chilopoda, Diplopoda). Norw. J. Entomol. 53, 335-344