The Mindoro giant millipede

Apart from phasmids, perhaps one of the more underrepresented of the local invertebrate subcultures is that dealing with millipedes, an anomaly possibly attributed to a lack of availability and diversity rather than an absence of interest.

The rather common Philippine Flameleg (Trigoniulus macropygus) sometimes finds its way in specialist collections, but extremely little is known about the representation of other species in captivity. Nevertheless, this ancient group of animals only requires a very straightforward care regimen, and even novices, kids including, can successfully rear specimens with just some basic considerations.

However, the species covered in this paper is one of the more defensive millipedes I am aware of and thus is better suited to more advanced hobbyists -- but that doesn’t make it necessarily more difficult to keep than the other, more inoffensive ones. The main difficulty is obtaining sources of captive-born stocks. I first found these animals while on a trek in Oriental Mindoro about ten years ago. On subsequent visits, I found these millipedes to be easily observed, albeit not at all common, and only quite recently have been given the opportunity to maintain three specimens. As of this writing, I must admit that I have not pinned down the exact identity of the animals, and possible candidates for its generic identity rests in the genera Acladocricus, Spirobolus, or Thyropygus. A similar, if not the same, species is purportedly found in Cebu.