Indian Millipedes: Life History and Behaviour of ‘Streptogonopus Phipsoni’ (Pocock)

Synopsis

Adults of several species illustrate some of the variations in shape and size of millepedes. Compares general characteristics of millepedes with those of centipedes. Shows scenes of active mating. Shows behavioural studies of the offspring of ‘Streptogonopus phipsoni’ (Pocock) at different larval stadia. The larvae leave the soil at the fourth stadium and afterwards live in swarms of several hundred individuals, returning to the soil again only to moult. The swarms spend the daylight hours feeding together on open ground, often in bright sunlight. Individuals that have been marked with spots of white paint can be followed within the swarm. The swarms scatter if disturbed, but reassemble again in a few minutes. Experiments are shown which investigate the way in which the swarm maintains its normal aggregation and controls the scattering and reaggregation. At the end of the monsoon the larvae burrow underground. They emerge as adults the following year at the start of the next monsoon.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Film; Film. 16mm. sd. col. 11 min.

Technical information

Black-and-white / Sound

Year of production

1983

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION (possibly NFTVA)

Uses

Teachers and students of zoology and natural history.*

Subjects

Biology

Keywords

centipedes; India; millipede

Credits

Writer

Ruth Bellairs

Distribution Formats

Type

Film

Format

16mm

Sponsor

Name

University College London

Distributor

Name

University of London Audio-Visual Centre

Notes

Closed down.