The population characteristics of the East African red legged diplopodMetiche tanganyciense Kraus (Diplopoda: Spirobolidae) |
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Authors: | Barundeb Banerjee |
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Institution: | (1) Tocklai Experimental Station, 785008 Jorhat, Assam, India |
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Abstract: | Summary A marked variation exists in the numbers and distribution of East African red legged millipedeMetiche tanganyciense
Kraus on the surface and in the lower layer (15 cm) of the soils. Stadia 5 cm and lesser in length are found in the lower layer
and those 5 cm and above on the surface soil. Adults are common in varying numbers in both the habitats.
It is suggested that after becoming surface active during March–August, and mating, adults migrate to lower layer during September
to oviposit. Eggs and early developmental stages are passed here, and when they are 5 cm in length, the stadia move to the
surfface soil to complete their development. In keeping with this behaviour, spatial distribution of the adults may change
from non-aggregation on surface soil to aggregation in the lower layer. The simulataneous presence of adults and developing
stadia in the two habitats suggests and overlapping of generations.
This investigation was done while I was in the Department of Entomology, University of Nairobi. |
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