Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3(4): 404-407
E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
JEZS 2015; 3(4): 404-407
© 2015 JEZS
Received: 24-06-2015
Accepted: 27-07-2015
Suresh Kondepudi
Research Scholar, Dept. of
Zoology, Scott Christian College
(Autonomous), Nagercoil, Tamil
Nadu, India.
M Kanagappan
Associate Professor, Dept. of
Zoology, Scott Christian College
(Autonomous), Nagercoil, Tamil
Nadu
S Sam Manohar Das
Associate Professor, Head of
Dept. of Zoology, Scott Christian
College (Autonomous),
Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu.
Life cycle of Spinotarsus colosseus (Diplopoda:
Spirostreptida: Odonotopgidae)
Suresh Kondepudi, M Kanagappan, S Sam Manohar Das
Abstract
The population diversity of the millipedes is huge in the soil fauna. Millipedes are better decomposers for
recycling the wastes and contribute more nutrients to the soil. Spinotarsus colosseus millipede has
superior ability to degrade the waste materials and close association with soil organisms. The life cycle of
an organism refers to the sequence of developmental stages, which includes all these stages starting from
mating, nest preparation by female parent, egg laying, incubation and development phase. In the present
study the life process of the millipede S. coloseeus and their different developmental stages including
their durations were observed and their morphological features were measured. Handpicked method was
used for collecting the S. colosseus millipedes from the field. Afterwards they were transmuted to the
laboratory and were incorporated into the culture room. The data for stage analyses were obtained by
laboratory breeding and continuous observations of field-collected specimens in captivity were also made
for more than one year. This paper emphasized that S. colosseus millipedes are trouble-free to rear and
can be feasible for farmers.
Keywords: Spinotarsus colosseus, life cycle, morphological changes, symbiotic nature, decomposer
1. Introduction
Millipedes are Arthropods that may be found all over the world except Antarctica [1]. While the
whole class is currently known to comprise two subclasses, 16 orders and more than144
families, considering recent updates in millipede taxonomy [2]. Among the soil animals
millipedes are the important macro fauna of the soil in woodland [3]. Mostly millipedes live in
dark places so sight is not well developed [4]. Spinotarsus colosseus millipede was selected
based on their availability, population diversity, species richness and abundance in areas where
waste materials accumulate. These are the natural soil farmers and tropical studies have
emphasized the influence of millipedes on decomposition [5].
The life process study was attempted in order to obtain information about S. colosseus
millipede, its morphological changes that have been occurring during its different stadial
development. In millipedes (Diplopoda), geographic variation in life-cycle characteristics have
been documented for some species of European millipedes [6, 7]. More recent studies have
emphasized the interactions of these animals with microorganisms directly responsible for
decomposition [8]. S. colosius also exhibits very close symbiotic relationship with other
organisms. The presence of millipedes has also been found to greatly increase with the release
of litter nutrients into the soil, especially calcium and nitrates [9]. They comminute the litter
and help in the mixing up of this with the soil minerals [10]. Their excrements affect soil
structure by the formation of soil aggregates, which provide good aeration and drainage.
Increase in nitrogen was reported by many researchers [11]. Earlier studies on feeding behavior
suggested that millipedes prefer partially degraded litter, as well as litter that is rich in nitrogen
[12]
. The present study brought lot of data that gave huge encourage to the eco-friendly formers.
Correspondence
Suresh Kondepudi
Research Scholar, Dept. of
Zoology, Scott Christian College
(Autonomous), Nagercoil, Tamil
Nadu, India.
2. Methods and materials
2.1. Site description: The present study was carried out between the period of June 2013 to
December 2014. Kanyakumari (8°14’23.10’’N 77°20’’04.02’’E) is the southernmost district
in Tamil Nadu, which has a varied topography with sea on three sides and the mountains of the
Western Ghats as well as southernmost tip of Peninsular India. It has rainfall both during the
southwest and northeast monsoons. The southwest monsoon starts from the month of June and
ends in September, while the northeast monsoon starts from the month of October and ends in
the middle of the December. The conductive climate with a rich diversity of soil fauna and
~ 404 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
flora available and Western Ghats are situated on the western
side of the district, favoring rich millipede population along its
tracts.
2.2. Animal description: Millipedes are universally present.
Their populations and life cycles differ based on their habitat
and climatic conditions. Millipedes were collected from the
study area by handpicked method and identified by using
Millipedes Identification Keys. To study the life cycle of S.
colosseus is very interesting and brings a lot of information.
This millipedes are very active both day and night in the
places where there is no human activities. These are the
specified information regarding to S. colosseus millipede.
Different parts of the millipede body
2.3. Description for the rearing chamber: The rearing
chamber was constructed near the laboratory at Scott Christian
College, Nagercoil (8.1700° N, 77.4300°E) with the help of
clay soil and bricks. These clay soils are characterized with
high water holding capacity for long period so that millipedes
feel comfortable as they were in their natural habitat. The measurements of rearing chamber is 8 feet long, 4 feet width
and 2 feet height area divided into four portions and the field
climatic conditions were maintained inside the chamber. A
wooden roof was constructed above the rearing chamber and
the nylon net was used to cover the entire chamber to prevent
the predators from outside as well as millipedes from inside.
They burrow through the humus for feeding and coming
actively to the surface in the night to wander around. The
temperature varied in the room in which they were kept in the
usual way during the day from proximately 20 °C to 30 °C.
The animals were provided with proper food and the
temperature and moisture were maintained properly for each
and every day.
Morphological measurements of spinotarsus colosseus at different stages
Life stage
Eggs
hatching
Instar1st
Instar2nd
Instar3rd
Instar4th
Inster5th
Pre-adult
Adult
Period(days)
190±15.5
10±3.6
30 ±5.7
60±6.2
180±8.2
300 ±10.4
1year±20.2
1 ½ year±30
2 year±50
Legs(pairs)
Segments
Length(cm)
Width(cm)
Weight(g)
colour
3
10
15
29
54
75
80
5
12
17
31
56
77
82
1
5
9
13
15
19
20
0.3
0.5
0.9
1.2
1.4
1.5
1.6
0.5
1.5
3.0
8.5
14.5
23.5
31
White
White
Gray
Red
Brown
Brown
brown
2.4. Method followed: All the species of millipedes were
brought to the laboratory and kept separately in rearing
chamber. Physical measurements of each millipede such as
length, width, weight, number of the segments and legs were
recorded and all the animals were subjected to temperature and
humidity prevalent in their field habitat and were fed with a
measured quantity of feed for the first month. The compost
pile was checked regularly to ensure whether it is adequately
moist or not. Observations are made for each week and
measurements were recorded.
3. Results and Discussions
3.1 Life cycle of spinnotarsus colosseus
All the collected millipedes were deposited into the rearing
chamber on June 18th 2013. The adult animals were brought
into the laboratory and were placed in fresh humus known to
be free of eggs or early stages. Both male and female coil
tightly together and the male millipedes released the sperm
packet called spermetophores from the gonopodes (modified
sex legs in 7th segments). During the mating time, the female
millipedes received the sperm packet. After that male
millipedes were separated from the chamber and the female
millipedes prepared the nest few inches inside the soil. All
these changes happened within 1-2 weeks.
After the process of insemination, the female stored the sperm
in the so-called spermathecae. The eggs will only be fertilized
when they leave the body at oviposition [13]. At this stage the
female millipede laid cluster of white or gray colored eggs.
The egg-masses were found to be different for particular
species. The date when the egg laid was not known for these
species because the mother millipedes went inside the nest or
the soil and deposited the eggs there. In S. colosseus the
numbers of the eggs laid were approximately 150-200.
~ 405 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
3.2. Spinnotarsus colosseus-life stages
Egg sack
1st and 2nd instar
3rd instar
4th instar
5th instar
6 adult
7 adult
8 adult
The eggs were approximately round, 10mm in diameter, and
appeared pearly, with a smooth surface. They were coated with
a sticky substance that caused them to clump together [14, 15].
The duration of time for egg hatching was not less than two
weeks, since first instar larvae hatched from July 31st to
August 3rd. All observations were made in a dark-room.
Eggs were laid in nests made of earthy faecal material, and
first and second stadial juveniles left the nest soon after
hatching. After laying the eggs the female millipedes shed
down their exoskeleton that contain high amount of calcium.
At hatching they were transparently pale white, but shortly
became red in the middle and finally turned into bluish brown.
Immediately after hatching out the young millipedes, which
were immobile and leg less, fed the shaded materials.
The young larvae were much lighter in color than the more
matured ones and it took more than a year for them to reach
the full size of the grown millipede [16]. In this stage all
millipedes have 3 body segments along with 3 pairs of legs
and they were 1 cm in length, 3mm width and 0.5g weight.
The animals were very active on hatching and move about
feeding on the humus. The time duration of the first instars
was approximately 33-40 days for all millipede species.
Second instars had 6 pairs of appendages, post-cephalic
segments and were 5cm. in length, 5mm in width and 1.5 g
weight. Juveniles were normally completely pallid white or
with a faint pattern which was much lighter than the adults.The
third instars possessed paired legs, body segments and cephalic
segments and increased in size, approximately 9mm. in
length,9mm width and 3.0 g weight and the data were
tabulated was a table. The time duration of the second instars
was approximately 31 days. Fourth and sixth instars underwent
modifications and all these stages are called premature stages.
The characteristics of the developmental stages are
summarized in Table 1. In every stages of their life cycle, the
millipedes add segments and legs as they mature. It takes
about 1-2 years for the millipede to mature fully, and it will
continue to live several years as an adult and the adults are
brownish in color. Adult stage is the prolonged stage in
millipedes life which is about half of their life cycle. The
mating starts from this stage and continuous for a little while.
Gonopods development in the males of millipedes resembles
the other millipedes. In the third and forth larval stage no
sexual dimorphism can be observed in the appendages. In the
fifth larval stage in the anterior pair of legs of the 7th postcephalic segment there appear two very small raise domes. In
the sixth larval stage these have become slightly larger. In the
sixth and seventh larval stages proximal and distal segments
are plainly apparent in adults. The post-embryonic
development consists of seven stadia (instars), which can be
identified by counting the number of body rings, and the sexes
can be distinguished from stadium IV onwards [17]. In many
organisms, ongoing climate changes affect the timing of lifecycle events such as activity, growth and reproduction [18].
4. Conclusion
The present study was carried out to observe the life cycle of
the S. colosseus and their behavior towards the environment.
The S. colosseus is a very active and important millipede plays
a vital role towards recycling the wastes materials and adding
the nutrients back to the soil. Studying the biology of this
animal brought lot of new data that gives huge support to the
people who are unaware of the millipedes and their role on the
environment. Now a day’s every where the deposition of the
waste increased in an alarming rate and nature also find it
difficult to degrade the whole waste with in the period of time.
So many methods are available for solving this problem. Using
millipedes as a bio-composting agent is one of the alternative
methods where the waste materials are lodge. The main
objective of this study is to bring the awareness among the
formers and to introduce millipedes as a soil friendly and
formers friendly animals to the agricultural lands.
5. Acknowledgements
I am very much obliged to Directorate Collegiate Education
(Chennai) for providing the financial support for my entire
Ph.D work.
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