{"id":6357,"date":"2021-08-25T15:42:41","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T15:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/?p=6357"},"modified":"2021-09-12T16:12:26","modified_gmt":"2021-09-12T16:12:26","slug":"life-cycle-and-lifespan-of-giant-millipedes-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/life-cycle-and-lifespan-of-giant-millipedes-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Life Cycle And Lifespan Of Giant Millipedes Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Everyone knows millipedes. There are around 12.000 different millipede species in the world known today and they live in almost every corner of the world. They are very popular exotic pet species too. They are often described as long-lived critters. But, how long do they actually live? And where do they come from \u2014 or in other words how does the life cycle of millipedes look like. Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s find out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Female millipedes lay up to 300 eggs in the soil which will hatch within a few weeks. The life cycle exists of 7-8 life cycle stages from egg to become adult. Depending on the species they mature within 1-5 years and millipedes may live for 2-10 years. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giant millipedes have a long lifespan where some can live up to 10 years (for example the giant African millipede<\/a>). Amazing right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The life cycle of millipedes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most millipedes reproduced sexually, which means the male and female millipede mate before she is able to lay fertile eggs. There are some rare known cases that millipedes can reproduce without mating, called parthenogenesis. However, with most giant millipedes kept as pets, this is not the case and you need both male and female. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The actual breeding can last from 15 minutes to a few hours and can recur after a few days or weeks. The male will grab the female like it is hugging her. He will extend his normally hidden reproducing organ called gonopods. Some males will rhythmically pulse or tap with their legs on the female body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The life cycle of millipedes exists in three stages: the eggs, the instar and the adult stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Millipedes clamped to each other during mating. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stage 1: The eggs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After a female has mated she makes herself ready to lay their eggs. She will dig down the substrate to find a quiet place that has the perfect humidity and temperature to incubate the eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the species, some females will lay eggs randomly into the substrate and others lay clutches of eggs. Some can lay up to 300 eggs in a year, but it will highly vary between different species. Very few millipedes care for their eggs. Most will abandon the eggs and don’t have any parental care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With most giant millipedes, the eggs are covered with a thin-walled capsule made of chewed soil and wood and are almost impossible to recognize in the soil because they blend in so well. It will lay in the soil for up to three months before the eggs hatch. Eggs are extremely vulnerable and fragile. If the capsule is damaged usually result in the death of the embryo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some millipede species lay eggs individually in the substrate without a capsule. The eggs are laid into a fine and damp substrate. The eggs are white transparent coloured and very tiny, and will be deeply burrowed in the substrate. Females will lay one egg a day and keep doing that for a long time, especially when good quality food is available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage 2: Instars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Newly hatched millipedes \u2014 called instars \u2014 typically have only 3 pairs of legs and one legless segment. With every moult, a couple of segments with legs are added. They are tiny and don’t look like their adults at all (which have between 30 and 350 pairs of legs). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often the 1st instar is white or grey, and only get some colour after their first moult. They keep on moulting until they reach adult size, which generally can be divided into 6 or 7 stages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instars live primarily in the substrate and won’t come above ground for at least the first 3 or 4 instar stages. They feed primarily on the substrate of rotten wood and leaves. When they become older, you may see them walking on the substrate. However, they are still shy and will dig in most of the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It takes around 1-5 years for an instar to become an adult, depending on the species. Every species will have its own speed of growth and differs in the number of body segments (and the number of legs). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Related read: <\/strong><\/strong>Substrate For Millipedes: What You Should Know<\/a><\/div>