Bumble Bee Millipede
Size
They typically grow to an adult length of 2 to 3 inches (approx. 5 to 7.5 cm). Some exceptional individuals may reach up to 4 inches (10 cm).
Habitat and Distribution
This species is native to the Caribbean and parts of Central America, particularly thriving in the Lesser Antilles, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola. They like a humid, warm, and secure enclosure packed with a deep, nutrient-rich substrate of rotting wood, leaf litter, and organic compost.
Age
They can live between 3 – 5 years, but some sources say they can even live up to 7 – 10 years.
Diet
The bumble bee millipede is a detritivore. Their primary diet consists of decaying, nutrient-rich organic matter. In captivity, their enclosure substrate acts as both their home and their main food source.
Groups and Breeding
They are highly communal and gregarious. While they do not display a complex, highly evolved social structure like ants or bees, they thrive in peaceful social groups and naturally cluster together to share food, maintain humidity, and seek safety in numbers. They breed readily in captivity year-round if provided with a warm, humid enclosure and a deep, nutritious substrate. Females lay small, individual eggs throughout the leaf litter, and the tiny offspring will naturally emerge within a few months.
Threats
In the wild, bumblebee millipedes primarily face threats from avian and mammalian predators, habitat loss due to deforestation or urban development, and the challenge of competing with invasive species in non-native environments.
Interesting Facts
The bumble bee millipede is a vividly striped, slow-moving invertebrate native to the Caribbean that has also been introduced to the southeastern United States.
During Your Day Out in Kent
You can find these millipedes in our bug house, along with many other different species.