---

To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
From: papillon_iii@...
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:52:38 +0000
Subject: [bugclub] Wild phasmid capture in UK - Bacillus rossius (??) - needs ID confirmation

I was out for a drive and noticed a stick insect on a shoot of a shrub.
The stick insect is primarily (all over ecept some small exceptions) pale-grass green, 72mm length body with a cream/yellow stripe down each side. It has dark reddish-brown patches on the legs where they attach to the body. It has light-brown 6mm antenae the first 1mm of which is green. It has 52mm long forelegs. It appears to be female. 
It was feeding/basking in the late afternoon sun on a cold windless day.
From my internet searches it appears to be B. rossius.
http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id100335/
I have the find in a large box on watered foodplant using an oasis.
Before I can go any further I need +ve expert identification. I live on the Hampshire south coast.
Please would Phasmid identificaction experts contact me for discussion & photos.
Has this ever been seen wild in the UK before now? 
 

Well if it is that species it has either escaped from captivity or
been deliberately released - they are not a native species and should
not be released in the wild (See The Amazing World of Stick and Leaf-insects by
Paul Brock. Published by the AES).

Hampshire (UK) has never had any native (or introduced) stick insect
species.



On 16 Nov 2007, at 07:31, julie nicholson wrote:

> Why could you not have just left it where it was?
>
>
> To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
> From: papillon_iii@...
> Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:52:38 +0000
> Subject: [bugclub] Wild phasmid capture in UK - Bacillus rossius
> (??) - needs ID confirmation
>
> I was out for a drive and noticed a stick insect on a shoot of a
> shrub.
> The stick insect is primarily (all over ecept some small
> exceptions) pale-grass green, 72mm length body with a cream/yellow
> stripe down each side. It has dark reddish-brown patches on the
> legs where they attach to the body. It has light-brown 6mm antenae
> the first 1mm of which is green. It has 52mm long forelegs. It
> appears to be female.
> It was feeding/basking in the late afternoon sun on a cold windless
> day.
> From my internet searches it appears to be B. rossius.
> http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id100335/
> I have the find in a large box on watered foodplant using an oasis.
> Before I can go any further I need +ve expert identification. I
> live on the Hampshire south coast.
> Please would Phasmid identificaction experts contact me for
> discussion & photos.
> Has this ever been seen wild in the UK before now?
>
>
>
>
> The next generation of MSN Hotmail has arrived - Windows Live Hotmail
>
>

Hi All

Bug Club wrote:
> Well if it is that species it has either escaped from captivity or
> been deliberately released - they are not a native species and should
> not be released in the wild (See The Amazing World of Stick and Leaf-insects
by Paul Brock. Published by the AES).
>

Absolutely, if it's a deliberate release then it's an offence under the
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/nonnav/02.htm

Cheers

Kieren

> Hampshire (UK) has never had any native (or introduced) stick insect
> species.
>
>
>
> On 16 Nov 2007, at 07:31, julie nicholson wrote:
>
>> Why could you not have just left it where it was?
>>
>>
>> To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
>> From: papillon_iii@...
>> Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:52:38 +0000
>> Subject: [bugclub] Wild phasmid capture in UK - Bacillus rossius
>> (??) - needs ID confirmation
>>
>> I was out for a drive and noticed a stick insect on a shoot of a
>> shrub.
>> The stick insect is primarily (all over ecept some small
>> exceptions) pale-grass green, 72mm length body with a cream/yellow
>> stripe down each side. It has dark reddish-brown patches on the
>> legs where they attach to the body. It has light-brown 6mm antenae
>> the first 1mm of which is green. It has 52mm long forelegs. It
>> appears to be female.
>> It was feeding/basking in the late afternoon sun on a cold windless
>> day.
>> From my internet searches it appears to be B. rossius.
>> http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id100335/
>> I have the find in a large box on watered foodplant using an oasis.
>> Before I can go any further I need +ve expert identification. I
>> live on the Hampshire south coast.
>> Please would Phasmid identificaction experts contact me for
>> discussion & photos.
>> Has this ever been seen wild in the UK before now?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> The next generation of MSN Hotmail has arrived - Windows Live Hotmail
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> ========================================================================
> Members photos of insects and articles etc. can be viewed via the Files and
Photos area - see the home page of the forum at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub
>
> Pictures of the eggs, larvae and pupae of UK Lepidoptera can be viewed at:
> http://www.ukleps.org/
>
>
>
> The next AES Exhibition at Kempton Park Racecourse, Middlesex, is on Saturday
22 September 2007, open from 11.00 am to 5.00pm. For further details and
information on membership of the AES see the AES Website at
http://www.amentsoc.org/.
>
> For advice on insects and membership of the AES Bug Club (open to those under
13) see the AES Bug Club website at
> http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Hi

papillon_iii wrote:
> But what you say is not really true. There is at least 2 other
> possible source/solutions to this find.
>
>
> Backgrounder to B. rossius..
>
> This species is found all across Europe (France, Italy etc) on sea-
> frontage locations. It survives in mainly warmer locations but I
> guess its sea-side habitat provides a good buffer from prevailing
> weather condition extremes of hot and cold.. If any species was
> native then this would be it.


A quick google search shows BugLife considers it non-native, knows about
its presence in the UK and considers it to be introduced:

http://www.buglife.org.uk/discoverbugs/knowledge/typesofinvertebratesbyhabitat/t\
errestrial/stickinsects.htm

   It does not fly so its not a migrant.
> It feeds on bramble and wild rose. This species is parthenogenic.
>
>
> Other soucres/solutions..
>
> Another source: eggs laid on plant material brought back/imported
> from continental europe.
>
> Another solution: its been native all the time.
>
> At the moment from just one individual it is not possible to say
> there is a breeding colony. But its located on ancient ground that
> has mainly -never- been disturbed by man. The odds are though that
> its just come in on plant material in recent years. It takes just one
> egg!
>

If you weigh up the options then it's *extremely* unlikely that this is
native and previously undiscovered - especially as BugLife are already
aware of other colonies and state it to be an introduced species.

The most likely cause is the accidental release of a pet - either as a
nymph thrown away with old foodplant or disposal of eggs in domestic
rubbish (without freezing them first).

You should report the finding to Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre:

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/biodiversity/hbic.htm

if they can't ID it then you could try the PSG:

http://www.stickinsect.org.uk/


> [This is not specifically addressed to this post but a general
> comment on posts so far...
>
> Really, I was after comments on identification. Its far too early yet
> to comment on the find itself. And moralising at this early really is
> a stinker.]
>
>

With regard to the earlier post, I wasn't "moralising" - merely pointing
out that the UK has laws on the release of non-natives. Given that
BugLife consider it an introduced species these laws are clearly relevant.

My post addressed the query questioning your actions in removing the
individual from the wild. I think it important to highlight the legal
frameworks in place within the UK designed to stop introductions of
non-natives (accidental or otherwise) and why its important to identify
it and report its occurrence at HBIC.

Cheers

Kieren


>
> --- In bugclub@yahoogroups.com, Bug Club <bugclubquestions@...> wrote:
>> Well if it is that species it has either escaped from captivity or
>> been deliberately released - they are not a native species and
> should
>> not be released in the wild (See The Amazing World of Stick and
> Leaf-insects by Paul Brock. Published by the AES).
>> Hampshire (UK) has never had any native (or introduced) stick
> insect
>> species.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 16 Nov 2007, at 07:31, julie nicholson wrote:
>>
>>> Why could you not have just left it where it was?
>>>
>>>
>>> To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
>>> From: papillon_iii@...
>>> Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:52:38 +0000
>>> Subject: [bugclub] Wild phasmid capture in UK - Bacillus rossius
>>> (??) - needs ID confirmation
>>>
>>> I was out for a drive and noticed a stick insect on a shoot of a
>>> shrub.
>>> The stick insect is primarily (all over ecept some small
>>> exceptions) pale-grass green, 72mm length body with a
> cream/yellow
>>> stripe down each side. It has dark reddish-brown patches on the
>>> legs where they attach to the body. It has light-brown 6mm
> antenae
>>> the first 1mm of which is green. It has 52mm long forelegs. It
>>> appears to be female.
>>> It was feeding/basking in the late afternoon sun on a cold
> windless
>>> day.
>>> From my internet searches it appears to be B. rossius.
>>> http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id100335/
>>> I have the find in a large box on watered foodplant using an
> oasis.
>>> Before I can go any further I need +ve expert identification. I
>>> live on the Hampshire south coast.
>>> Please would Phasmid identificaction experts contact me for
>>> discussion & photos.
>>> Has this ever been seen wild in the UK before now?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The next generation of MSN Hotmail has arrived - Windows Live
> Hotmail
>>>
>
>
>
>
> ========================================================================
> Members photos of insects and articles etc. can be viewed via the Files and
Photos area - see the home page of the forum at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub
>
> Pictures of the eggs, larvae and pupae of UK Lepidoptera can be viewed at:
> http://www.ukleps.org/
>
>
>
> The next AES Exhibition at Kempton Park Racecourse, Middlesex, is on Saturday
22 September 2007, open from 11.00 am to 5.00pm. For further details and
information on membership of the AES see the AES Website at
http://www.amentsoc.org/.
>
> For advice on insects and membership of the AES Bug Club (open to those under
13) see the AES Bug Club website at
> http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

--
_____________________________________________________
Dr Kieren Pitts
Kieren.Pitts@...
Senior Analyst/Programmer
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
University of Bristol
8-10 Berkeley Square
Bristol
BS8 1HH
Tel: 0117 9287120 (Direct)

Work blog - http://kieren.blogs.ilrt.org
Latest posting - Losing the 404 File not found error

http://www.ilrt.bris.ac.uk/aboutus/staff?search=bzkmp
http://www.ilrt.bris.ac.uk/id/

member of the bugclub list
bugclub@egroups.com

INFO's



Pagina de Informaciones del portal Bio-Nica.
Enviada semanalmente a sus suscriptores
(suscripción gratuita enviando un e-mail a MEL-Info-subscribe@...)



Text in english follows...
Texte en français suit...

Estimados amigos,

Tenemos el gusto de anunciarles que esta disponible en formato pdf, el catalogo
de los Meloidae de Nicaragua. Estos coleopteros (escarabajos) muy peculiares, de
interes para control integrado de plagas, nocivos para algunas abejas, de
importancia medica, pueden ser abundantes repentinamente.

El archivo esta disponible en la pagina web de Bio-Nica (www.bio-nica.info), en
la seccion de la Revista Nicaraguense de Entomologia.

Tambien disponible en esta sección, el estudio de Torres, Arana y Maes sobre el
uso potencial de mariposas y escarabajos como indicadores de calidad de ambiente
en la Reserva de Biosfera Indio-Maiz.

Con amistad,

Jean-Michel.





Chers amis,

Ce petit courrier pour signaler la disponibilité du Catalogue illustré de
Meloides du Nicaragua.

Le document format pdf, 90 pp., est disponible sur www.bio-nica.info
Section revista entomologica, ensuite il s'agit de la dernière publication de
l'index de cette revue.

Aussi disponible une étude da Torres, Arana et Maes sur l'emploi potentiel de
papillons et scarabées comme indicateurs de qualité de l'environnement dans la
Reserva de Biosphère Indio Mauz, au Nicaragua.

Amicalement,

Jean-Michel.



Dear friends,

This short note to inform that a pdf version of the Illustrated catalogue of the
Meloidae (Coleoptera) of Nicaragua is now available on the web page of Bio-Nica
at:
www.bio-nica.info
in the seccion of Entomological journal (Revista de Entomologia), in the index,
it's the last publication.

Also available in the same page, a study by Torres, Arana and Maes on the
Potential use of butterflies, moths and scarabs as environmental quality
indicators in the Biosphere Protected Area of Indio Maiz.

Sincerely,

Jean-Michel.

Anybody know what this bug is ???
I keep finding them in my house. I'm getting concerned.

Thanks...


http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub/spnew?yguid=41297311

EDITORS NOTE:-

I am not an expert on Bugs but this one looks like a Western Pine Cone
Leaffooted Bug. For details of several types of Bugs see:-


http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2142.html

Thank you so much. That is exactly it!
One more google search got me this color pic of a live one.
And it feeds on Douglas fir trees which I have 2 next to the house.

http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/western_conifer_seed_bug.htm

Wishing you the best of holidays...

Rob

angrygargoyle <angrygargoyle@...> wrote:                              
Anybody know what this bug is ???
  I keep finding them in my house. I'm getting concerned.

  Thanks...

  http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub/spnew?yguid=41297311

  EDITORS NOTE:-

  I am not an expert on Bugs but this one looks like a Western Pine Cone
Leaffooted Bug. For details of several types of Bugs see:-

  http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2142.html





---------------------------------
Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.

I second this - especially as this is a BRITISH group!!!
Malcolm


> -----Original Message-----
> From: bugclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:bugclub@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
> Of Shaun Wall
> Sent: 25 November 2007 22:54
> To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [bugclub] Need HELP identifying this bug in house
>
> I am so relieved that my house in Essex UK will not be stunk out then this
> winter by a Western Pine Cone Leaf-Footed Bug. So I guess although it
> flies it does not fly American Airlines. It would be nice if bugclub users
> took the trouble to say where they are in the planet as there IS life
> outside the USofA. Trust me on this one.
> Shaun Southockendon
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Mr. Angry Gargoyle <angrygargoyle@...>
> To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, 24 November, 2007 8:42:40 PM
> Subject: Re: [bugclub] Need HELP identifying this bug in house
>
>
>
> Thank you so much. That is exactly it!
> One more google search got me this color pic of a live one.
> And it feeds on Douglas fir trees which I have 2 next to the house.
>
> http://www.ento. psu.edu/extensio n/factsheets/ western_conifer_ seed_bug.
> htm
> <http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/western_conifer_seed_bug.htm
> >
>
> Wishing you the best of holidays...
>
> Rob
>
> angrygargoyle <angrygargoyle@ yahoo.com <mailto:angrygargoyle%40yahoo.com>
> > wrote: Anybody know what this bug is ???
> I keep finding them in my house. I'm getting concerned.
>
> Thanks...
>
> http://tech. groups.yahoo. com/group/ bugclub/spnew? yguid=41297311
> <http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub/spnew?yguid=41297311>
>
> EDITORS NOTE:-
>
> I am not an expert on Bugs but this one looks like a Western Pine Cone
> Leaffooted Bug. For details of several types of Bugs see:-
>
> http://ohioline. osu.edu/hyg- fact/2000/ 2142.html
> <http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2142.html>
>
>
>
>
> ------------ --------- --------- ---
> Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See
> how.
>
>
>
>
> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
>

Heh heh :-)

Apologies at this stage to anyone who is not used to our warped
British sense of humour! The reality, of course, is that insects are
everywhere, and the AES is very happy to host this worldwide group
(Martians welcome too!)

Which reminds me - for members of the AES, our Members' Day in April
includes talks on the theme 'Insects and the future of the world -
our role' together with workshops and behind the scenes museum tours.
While this is a great excuse to visit London and the Natural History
Museum, you can receive our periodicals and benefit from other AES
membership privileges without stirring from your home, wherever you
live. For example, our regular periodicals include six issues of the
AES Bulletin every year, six issues of the Bug Club Magazine, and
three issues of Invertebrate Conservation News.

As our membership year is the calendar year, now is a great time to
join the AES, wherever you are in the world. And our concern is with
exactly that - the future of our natural world. Entomology is a
worldwide endeavour. By joining the AES, one of the oldest societies
for popular entomology in the world, you will be helping to conserve
insects and to encourage their study among the young (and the young
at heart).

Dafydd
www.amentsoc.org

--- In bugclub@yahoogroups.com, "Malcolm Storey" <malcolm.storey@...>
wrote:
>
> I second this - especially as this is a BRITISH group!!!
> Malcolm
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: bugclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:bugclub@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf
> > Of Shaun Wall
> > Sent: 25 November 2007 22:54
> > To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Re: [bugclub] Need HELP identifying this bug in house
> >
> > I am so relieved that my house in Essex UK will not be stunk out
then this
> > winter by a Western Pine Cone Leaf-Footed Bug. So I guess
although it
> > flies it does not fly American Airlines. It would be nice if
bugclub users
> > took the trouble to say where they are in the planet as there IS
life
> > outside the USofA. Trust me on this one.
> > Shaun Southockendon
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Mr. Angry Gargoyle <angrygargoyle@...>
> > To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Saturday, 24 November, 2007 8:42:40 PM
> > Subject: Re: [bugclub] Need HELP identifying this bug in house
> >
> >
> >
> > Thank you so much. That is exactly it!
> > One more google search got me this color pic of a live one.
> > And it feeds on Douglas fir trees which I have 2 next to the
house.
> >
> > http://www.ento. psu.edu/extensio n/factsheets/ western_conifer_
seed_bug.
> > htm
> >
<http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/western_conifer_seed_bug
.htm
> > >
> >
> > Wishing you the best of holidays...
> >
> > Rob
> >
> > angrygargoyle <angrygargoyle@ yahoo.com <mailto:angrygargoyle%
40yahoo.com>
> > > wrote: Anybody know what this bug is ???
> > I keep finding them in my house. I'm getting concerned.
> >
> > Thanks...
> >
> > http://tech. groups.yahoo. com/group/ bugclub/spnew?
yguid=41297311
> > <http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub/spnew?yguid=41297311>
> >
> > EDITORS NOTE:-
> >
> > I am not an expert on Bugs but this one looks like a Western Pine
Cone
> > Leaffooted Bug. For details of several types of Bugs see:-
> >
> > http://ohioline. osu.edu/hyg- fact/2000/ 2142.html
> > <http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2142.html>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------ --------- --------- ---
> > Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo!
Mail. See
> > how.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Send instant messages to your online friends
http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
> >
>

at what age do the giant african snails start breeding?

The October issue of the AES Bug Club Magazine has been out for a
while - indeed, the bumper December issue will shortly be despatched
to AES Bug Club members.

The october issue included an excellent article on hissing
cockroaches by Rachel McLeod, aged 8. We had no idea that these
insects were so interesting, and as Rachel pointed out in her article
they are an excellent way of seeing insect anatomy, because they are
fairly large (and they hiss)!

Other points of note include the new discovery of a stag beetle in
one of the London parks, made by Bug Club member Glenn Knight, aged
8, while on a Bug Club outing there! There is also an aticle in the
magazine on the history of insect conservation, by Conservation Cara,
along with some breaking news to do with insect conservation.

And of course, the regular features are there, such as the poem, the
jokes, the `what on earth' puzzle and more...including `Fleas – the
dark side' – a real eye opener!!

More details of the Bug Club can be found on the AES website
(www.amentsoc.org) - click on the Bug Club section.

Best wishes,
The AES Bug Club Magazine Editorial Team

PS Having reviewed some other natural history magazines for children
recently, the BCM seems to be the most affordable of those we looked
at, and it is quite unique in its focus on entomology, something we
are quite proud of at the AES. So many famous people set out into the
world after having their interest sparked by observing insects -
Charles Darwin and Winston Churchill, to name but two.

--- In bugclub@yahoogroups.com, "dumblond1979" <dumblond1979@...> wrote:
>
> at what age do the giant african snails start breeding?
>

Not at any special age, more likely size.
Which species do you have?

Lissachatina (Achatina) fulica may become sexually mature at 3,5-4cm if
I remember correctly.
Other species may need to grow more (except A.iredalei)

Best wishes
Fredrik

Hi,
I am writing from Los Angeles, Califoria with a question about a
caterpiller we have found on set at a photo shoot. We hired some
Scottish Moss from a set greenery provider, and on it was a small
caterpiller (green with a black head). We have no way of returning it
so that it can find its regular food source, and so I have brought it
home and created a little enclosure for it on the Scottish Moss. We
have no idea what type of caterpiller it is, but it seems happy to eat
Bok Choy which is what we have been feeding it. Now we would really
like to find out the best way to keep it alive. Is there anyone who
might be able to help us discover what kind of caterpiller this is if
we provide a photo? Any ideas on what we should feed it and provide in
the enclosure? How much space?

Thank you, in advance, for your time.
Best,
Erin Cloke

Hi everyone, great group!!

Apologies for the length of this post, but I need to explain a bit....

I've always found Giant Black Millipedes interesting & cool animals.
I work in a school as a science technician & decided to get one as a
pet that I could take in to show the kids. After doing a bit of
reading up on them, I got the impression that they were easy enough
pets to look after for an arthropod-amateur like me, so I bought one
(Miles) on 11th November (2007). He was already fairly big, about
25cm (10 inch) long. I set up a tank which is 18 inch long/12 inch
wide & high, I added about 4 inches of substrate (organic, fibrous
stuff from the pet shop that you use for vivariums), some dead
leaves, a bog wood cave for a hiding place etc. I placed the tank
away from direct sunlight & used a dark towel to semi-cover the tank
to create darkness/semi-light conditions. I placed a heat mat
underneath that covered about 1/3 of the tank's base & the
temperature of the tank stays at around 23 degrees C (73 degrees F).
I found that as I placed a shallow water dish in the tank (with a
rock in to let Miles have something to grip on), the heat caused the
water to evaporate & condense on the plastic lid creating a warm,
humid environment & I had no need to spray as the substrate etc
maintained dampness. I gave Miles foods such as: chopped lettuce,
cucumber, plum, finely grated carrot etc & dusted them with a calcium
powder designed for reptiles (made of crushed crickets etc). However
I never actually saw Miles eat anything & wasn't sure if the food
just rotted away/disintegrated & figured he must eat at night.

However, over the past week, Miles became slower & as I'm a novice I
wasn't sure if he was coming towards a moult so decided to not bother
him as from what I'd read I got the impression that they liked to dig
themselves in somewhere quietly & like to be left alone during this
time. Unfortunately on Friday, he did not look well at all, he was
very slow & his legs were making odd, slow movements then last night
they stopped moving & when I picked him up his body was limp :o(

What did I do wrong???? I feel awful. He didn't seem to show any
signs of disease. Were the conditions not suitable? maybe he hadn't
been eating...but I'd have thought he'd have died before now in that
case as I've had him nearly 3 weeks, how long can they last without
food?? Did it upset him being held by the kids at school? do
millipedes get traumatised? the kids were always gentle, never
grabbing & letting him walk onto them, in fact I tended to "warm him
up" before lessons by getting him out & letting him uncoil & get
mobile in his own time. Was it just old age? at 10 inches he was more
or less fully grown, maybe I just unlucky to have bought him too
late.

I don't want to get another one until I know what I did wrong, in
fact maybe I'm just not cut out to be a millipede owner & should
stick to mammals/reptiles!!

I really would appreciate any advice.

Many thanks,

Tash :o)

Hi everyone, great group!!

Apologies for the length of this post, but I need to explain a bit....

I've always found Giant Black Millipedes interesting & cool animals.
I work in a school as a science technician & decided to get one as a
pet that I could take in to show the kids. After doing a bit of
reading up on them, I got the impression that they were easy enough
pets to look after for an arthropod-amateur like me, so I bought one
(Miles) on 11th November (2007). He was already fairly big, about
25cm (10 inch) long. I set up a tank which is 18 inch long/12 inch
wide & high, I added about 4 inches of substrate (organic, fibrous
stuff from the pet shop that you use for vivariums), some dead
leaves, a bog wood cave for a hiding place etc. I placed the tank
away from direct sunlight & used a dark towel to semi-cover the tank
to create darkness/semi-light conditions. I placed a heat mat
underneath that covered about 1/3 of the tank's base & the
temperature of the tank stays at around 23 degrees C (73 degrees F).
I found that as I placed a shallow water dish in the tank (with a
rock in to let Miles have something to grip on), the heat caused the
water to evaporate & condense on the plastic lid creating a warm,
humid environment & I had no need to spray as the substrate etc
maintained dampness. I gave Miles foods such as: chopped lettuce,
cucumber, plum, finely grated carrot etc & dusted them with a calcium
powder designed for reptiles (made of crushed crickets etc). However
I never actually saw Miles eat anything & wasn't sure if the food
just rotted away/disintegrated & figured he must eat at night.

However, over the past week, Miles became slower & as I'm a novice I
wasn't sure if he was coming towards a moult so decided to not bother
him as from what I'd read I got the impression that they liked to dig
themselves in somewhere quietly & like to be left alone during this
time. Unfortunately on Friday, he did not look well at all, he was
very slow & his legs were making odd, slow movements then last night
they stopped moving & when I picked him up his body was limp :o(

What did I do wrong???? I feel awful. He didn't seem to show any
signs of disease. Were the conditions not suitable? maybe he hadn't
been eating...but I'd have thought he'd have died before now in that
case as I've had him nearly 3 weeks, how long can they last without
food?? Did it upset him being held by the kids at school? do
millipedes get traumatised? the kids were always gentle, never
grabbing & letting him walk onto them, in fact I tended to "warm him
up" before lessons by getting him out & letting him uncoil & get
mobile in his own time. Was it just old age? at 10 inches he was more
or less fully grown, maybe I just unlucky to have bought him too
late.

I don't want to get another one until I know what I did wrong, in
fact maybe I'm just not cut out to be a millipede owner & should
stick to mammals/reptiles!!

I really would appreciate any advice.

Many thanks,

Tash :o)

--- In bugclub@yahoogroups.com, "yorkietash" <yorkietash@...> wrote:
>
> Hi everyone, great group!!
>
> Apologies for the length of this post, but I need to explain a
bit....
>
> I've always found Giant Black Millipedes interesting & cool
animals.
> I work in a school as a science technician & decided to get one as
a
> pet that I could take in to show the kids. After doing a bit of
> reading up on them, I got the impression that they were easy enough
> pets to look after for an arthropod-amateur like me, so I bought
one
> (Miles) on 11th November (2007). He was already fairly big, about
> 25cm (10 inch) long. I set up a tank which is 18 inch long/12 inch
> wide & high, I added about 4 inches of substrate (organic, fibrous
> stuff from the pet shop that you use for vivariums), some dead
> leaves, a bog wood cave for a hiding place etc. I placed the tank
> away from direct sunlight & used a dark towel to semi-cover the
tank
> to create darkness/semi-light conditions. I placed a heat mat
> underneath that covered about 1/3 of the tank's base & the
> temperature of the tank stays at around 23 degrees C (73 degrees
F).
> I found that as I placed a shallow water dish in the tank (with a
> rock in to let Miles have something to grip on), the heat caused
the
> water to evaporate & condense on the plastic lid creating a warm,
> humid environment & I had no need to spray as the substrate etc
> maintained dampness. I gave Miles foods such as: chopped lettuce,
> cucumber, plum, finely grated carrot etc & dusted them with a
calcium
> powder designed for reptiles (made of crushed crickets etc).
However
> I never actually saw Miles eat anything & wasn't sure if the food
> just rotted away/disintegrated & figured he must eat at night.
>
> However, over the past week, Miles became slower & as I'm a novice
I
> wasn't sure if he was coming towards a moult so decided to not
bother
> him as from what I'd read I got the impression that they liked to
dig
> themselves in somewhere quietly & like to be left alone during this
> time. Unfortunately on Friday, he did not look well at all, he was
> very slow & his legs were making odd, slow movements then last
night
> they stopped moving & when I picked him up his body was limp :o(
>
> What did I do wrong???? I feel awful. He didn't seem to show any
> signs of disease. Were the conditions not suitable? maybe he hadn't
> been eating...but I'd have thought he'd have died before now in
that
> case as I've had him nearly 3 weeks, how long can they last without
> food?? Did it upset him being held by the kids at school? do
> millipedes get traumatised? the kids were always gentle, never
> grabbing & letting him walk onto them, in fact I tended to "warm
him
> up" before lessons by getting him out & letting him uncoil & get
> mobile in his own time. Was it just old age? at 10 inches he was
more
> or less fully grown, maybe I just unlucky to have bought him too
> late.
>
> I don't want to get another one until I know what I did wrong, in
> fact maybe I'm just not cut out to be a millipede owner & should
> stick to mammals/reptiles!!
>
> I really would appreciate any advice.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Tash :o)
>

Hi Tash!

There are a number of things that can go wrong with millipedes, and
it's impossible to say exactly what caused the death.
But my guess is that he died of old age (the length of the millipede
sounds like an adult specimen).
Most of the larger specimens found at pet-shops are adult, wild
caught specimens, and there are no way to tell how old they are, but
the larger they are, the older they are.

I don't usually recommend handling millipedes, they do have defensive
secretion which can cause allergy and the handling itself causes
stress to the millipede.
One way to minimize the risk of causing stress to the millipede, is
to let it walk by itself on to your hand.
Millipedes do not like to be handled as mammals and can not be tamed
(as many will probably tell you).

But next time, don't buy a millipede nor substrate from the pet-shop,
there are better ways to get one.
Remember, pet-shops are only interested of making money,and will not
tell you about any short cuts,  trust me, I have a pet-shop myself :o)

Always buy animals directly from a breeder and do not buy substrate.
The best substrate (and less expensive) are what you find in a nearby
forest. Dead, decayed wood and leaves.


I have written a care sheet for millipedes which I can e-mail you if
you are interested.
There you can read about what leaves and wood to use and a few more
tips.

Take care and please forgive my English

Best wishes
Fredrik - Sweden
My e-mail : haljeszoo(@)yahoo.se

Hi Tash,

If you are going to buy a replacement millipede you need to contact a reliable
trader in the UK. One well known UK breeder/trader who I would recommend is
Virginia Cheeseman (like most UK traders she does not sell livestock to overseas
customers). I have known her for many years and she provides advice in the form
of caresheets and regularly attends the AES Exhibitions. Her e-mail address is:-

http://www.virginiacheeseman.co.uk/


Cheers

Reg


On 2 Dec 2007, at 17:33, Natasha Kirk wrote:

>
>
> Hiya Matt,
>
> Cheers, I'll check the site out in a few days then & hopefully
> someone will be able to tell me where I went wrong!
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Tash x
>
>
> To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
> From: matsmith60@...
> Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2007 17:29:28 +0000
> Subject: Re: [bugclub] Re: Giant Millipede Advice: What did I do
> wrong???
>
>
> Hi
>
> A good forum for things like this is http://bugnation.co.uk - only
> problm is it will be down for a few days while the server is sorted
> out at the hosting company.  You should get lots of advice there
> about all sorts of inverts.
>
> Matt
>
> yorkietash <yorkietash@...> wrote:
> Hi everyone, great group!!
>
> Apologies for the length of this post, but I need to explain a bit....
>
> I've always found Giant Black Millipedes interesting & cool animals.
> I work in a school as a science technician & decided to get one as a
> pet that I could take in to show the kids. After doing a bit of
> reading up on them, I got the impression that they were easy enough
> pets to look after for an arthropod-amateur like me, so I bought one
> (Miles) on 11th November (2007). He was already fairly big, about
> 25cm (10 inch) long. I set up a tank which is 18 inch long/12 inch
> wide & high, I added about 4 inches of substrate (organic, fibrous
> stuff from the pet shop that you use for vivariums), some dead
> leaves, a bog wood cave for a hiding place etc. I placed the tank
> away from direct sunlight & used a dark towel to semi-cover the tank
> to create darkness/semi-light conditions. I placed a heat mat
> underneath that covered about 1/3 of the tank's base & the
> temperature of the tank stays at around 23 degrees C (73 degrees F).
> I found that as I placed a shallow water dish in the tank (with a
> rock in to let Miles have something to grip on), the heat caused the
> water to evaporate & condense on the plastic lid creating a warm,
> humid environment & I had no need to spray as the substrate etc
> maintained dampness. I gave Miles foods such as: chopped lettuce,
> cucumber, plum, finely grated carrot etc & dusted them with a calcium
> powder designed for reptiles (made of crushed crickets etc). However
> I never actually saw Miles eat anything & wasn't sure if the food
> just rotted away/disintegrated & figured he must eat at night.
>
> However, over the past week, Miles became slower & as I'm a novice I
> wasn't sure if he was coming towards a moult so decided to not bother
> him as from what I'd read I got the impression that they liked to dig
> themselves in somewhere quietly & like to be left alone during this
> time. Unfortunately on Friday, he did not look well at all, he was
> very slow & his legs were making odd, slow movements then last night
> they stopped moving & when I picked him up his body was limp :o(
>
> What did I do wrong???? I feel awful. He didn't seem to show any
> signs of disease. Were the conditions not suitable? maybe he hadn't
> been eating...but I'd have thought he'd have died before now in that
> case as I've had him nearly 3 weeks, how long can they last without
> food?? Did it upset him being held by the kids at school? do
> millipedes get traumatised? the kids were always gentle, never
> grabbing & letting him walk onto them, in fact I tended to "warm him
> up" before lessons by getting him out & letting him uncoil & get
> mobile in his own time. Was it just old age? at 10 inches he was more
> or less fully grown, maybe I just unlucky to have bought him too
> late.
>
> I don't want to get another one until I know what I did wrong, in
> fact maybe I'm just not cut out to be a millipede owner & should
> stick to mammals/reptiles!!
>
> I really would appreciate any advice.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Tash :o)
>
>
>
>
> Sent from Yahoo! - the World's favourite mail.
>
>
>
>
> The next generation of MSN Hotmail has arrived - Windows Live Hotmail
>
>

Hi,

Thank you so much to everyone for all your help/advice

I guess it is a good idea to go to a breeder rather than a pet shop

I'll certainly give it some thought before getting another millipede

You guys are great, thanks again

Tash xxx

Hi, I have a question about a certain insect that I thought I knew the
name of, but now I can't find a mention of anywhere. I'm working on a
children's picture book, with very unusual animals from A-Z, and for
letter 'Z' I had found some beetle-like insect a few months ago online,
whose name was something along the lines of 'Zyzzazza'. Now, no matter
what variation of spelling I use, the internet won't show me anything
of that name. I believe the one time I saw it, there was a magazine
named after it (not Entomology related). I would appreciate it if you
have any idea what insect I'm talking about!

Hi,
It's Zyzzyva

The beetle is a tropical American weevil:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zyzzyva

The magazine is http://www.zyzzyva.org/
They even show the name-sake beetle on their site:
http://www.zyzzyva.org/timeline.htm
and have used it (actually a very different looking beetle!!!) on their
cover:
http://www.fool45.com/how/how-do-you-pronounce-zyzzyva/
The picture on Wikipedia is just any old beetle, not Zyzzyva - if you hover
over it, it says "Donacia-transparent.png". Donacia is a Chrysomelid - quite
a long way from weevils.)

Zyzzyva is the last word in the American Heritage Dictionary. But doesn't
seem to be in English dictionaries (even Chambers, tho my copy is old). Any
dictionary that attempted to include all Latin names would be enormous!

In case you're wondering: no, I didn't already know the above! Followed and
Googled it thru from Wikipedia's entry for "Magazine".
HTH
Malcolm


> -----Original Message-----
> From: bugclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:bugclub@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
> Of lguerin2
> Sent: 09 December 2007 20:39
> To: bugclub@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [bugclub] Mysterious 'Z' Insect?
>
>  Hi, I have a question about a certain insect that I thought I knew the
> name of, but now I can't find a mention of anywhere. I'm working on a
> children's picture book, with very unusual animals from A-Z, and for
> letter 'Z' I had found some beetle-like insect a few months ago online,
> whose name was something along the lines of 'Zyzzazza'. Now, no matter
> what variation of spelling I use, the internet won't show me anything
> of that name. I believe the one time I saw it, there was a magazine
> named after it (not Entomology related). I would appreciate it if you
> have any idea what insect I'm talking about!
>
>
>
>
> ========================================================================
> Members photos of insects and articles etc. can be viewed via the Files
> and Photos area - see the home page of the forum at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bugclub
>
> Pictures of the eggs, larvae and pupae of UK Lepidoptera can be viewed at:
> http://www.ukleps.org/
>
>
>
> The next AES Exhibition at Kempton Park Racecourse, Middlesex, is on
> Saturday 22 September 2007, open from 11.00 am to 5.00pm. For further
> details and information on membership of the AES see the AES Website at
> http://www.amentsoc.org/.
>
> For advice on insects and membership of the AES Bug Club (open to those
> under 13) see the AES Bug Club website at
> http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

On Mon, December 10, 2007 11:37, Malcolm Storey wrote:

> The beetle is a tropical American weevil:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zyzzyva

> The picture on Wikipedia is just any old beetle, not Zyzzyva - if you
> hover over it, it says "Donacia-transparent.png". Donacia is a Chrysomelid
> - quite
> a long way from weevils.)

The picture there relates the the subsequent, boilerplate, text saying
that the article being a "beetle-related stub" (i.e. a short article in
need of expansion).

Note, though, that the Wikipedia page is marked up (like most Wikipedia
articles about species, and other ranks) using the draft "Species"
microformat (<http://microformats.org/wiki/species>), making the taxonomic
detail available to parsers.

Currently, the best parser for the Species microformat is the Operator
extension for Firefox (<http://www.kaply.com/weblog/operator/>)

An illustration of Operator in use may be found here:
<http://flickr.com/photos/pigsonthewing/1841222236/in/set-72157603395473438/>

--
Andy Mabbett
** via webmail **

Thanks to both of you that responded! Zyzzyva is exactly what I was
looking for, I guess I was just missing the 'v'. Much appreciated.

Hi there,

Check out the jolly seasonal video accessible via this website:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?
xml=/news/2007/12/12/nbugs112.xml

(Text of the article on the webpage is reproduced below).

Dafydd

The lesser known Twelve Bugs of Christmas

By Laura Clout
Last Updated: 11:45am GMT 12/12/2007

A group of children has released a new version of The Twelve Days of
Christmas - to encourage people to spare a thought for insects during
the festivities.

In The Twelve Bugs of Christmas, the traditional partridge and pear
tree are replaced by "an aphid in an oak tree", turtle doves make way
for millipedes and French hens for fruit flies.

The conservation trust Buglife organised the recording to spread the
word that without insects, much of the festive fare enjoyed at
Christmas would not exist.

Through pollination, insects contribute to the growth of a variety of
Christmas foods, including brazil nuts, almonds and figs.
They also serve as a source of food for many animals and birds.
The symbol of Christmas itself, the robin, would not survive without
grubs and caterpillars to feed to its young, the charity says.
Stephen Cox, head master of St Augustine's Junior School in
Peterborough, said the school had jumped at the chance to be part of
the project, which was sponsored by Norwich and Peterborough Building
Society.

"The children think it's fantastic. We've all been humming the tune
for the last two weeks and it's going to be part of our Christmas
production," Mr Cox said.

A spokesman for Buglife said: "It's all too easy to take bugs for
granted or even to persecute them. In fact bugs are vital to us and
there would be almost no life on earth without them. This is the
Christmas message we'd like people to think about this year, in
between the mince pies and the repeats on TV."

How cool is that!