Successful rearing of probable Haplodesmidae (Diplopoda: Polydesmida) (original) (raw)

June 20: accidentally collected two of these from the LA Arboretum: July 4-ish: construction of first capsule nest (by female not pictured here) noted.July 8: pictured female detected constructing a capsule nest; when found, nest was already sealed (though seemingly still unfinished) and contained an estimated 4-6 eggs. I suspect the animal does not temporarily unseal it to lay additional eggs. This nest was dissected for photographic purposes the next day, and I deleted all the eggs after finishing photography (just in case they developed improperly outside the nest's microclimate and molded, which I imagine would poison the rest of the vial). The non-pictured female was also accidentally dropped out of its vial on this date; I could not refind it and thus I only have one millipede now. Additional comments under the photograph descriptions.