Microcosm Setup
Glass tanks (30 9 15 cm) were used as laboratory microcosm
for manure production by pill-millipedes. Fallen and
partially decomposed 250 mg leaf litter each of Lagerstroemia
microcarpa, Pongamia pinnata and Terminalia paniculata
were mixed and transferred to each tank. The leaf litter
was allowed to wet with tap water (excess water is not
desirable for millipedes’ activity and the faecal pellets will not
be intact leading to difficulty to separate from leaf litter). Top
of the tanks was covered with wire mesh to avoid escape of
animals. To each tank, four pre-weighed pill-millipedes (Arthrosphaera
fumosa and A.magna collected fromtheWestern
Ghats were marked on the anal tergite for recognition) were
released separately. Three replicate tanks weremaintained for
evaluating the manure production, composition and assessment.
On every week up to 4 weeks,millipedes, leaf litter and
faecal pelletswere separated.Each animalwasweighed (fresh
weight), faecal pellets (produced by four millipedes) accumulated
in each tank were spread, air-dried (48 h) and
weighed. Millipedes and leftover leaf litter were transferred
into the respective tanks on each week of harvest of manure.
Microcosm Setup
Glass tanks (30 9 15 cm) were used as laboratory microcosm
for manure production by pill-millipedes. Fallen and
partially decomposed 250 mg leaf litter each of Lagerstroemia
microcarpa, Pongamia pinnata and Terminalia paniculata
were mixed and transferred to each tank. The leaf litter
was allowed to wet with tap water (excess water is not
desirable for millipedes’ activity and the faecal pellets will not
be intact leading to difficulty to separate from leaf litter). Top
of the tanks was covered with wire mesh to avoid escape of
animals. To each tank, four pre-weighed pill-millipedes (Arthrosphaera
fumosa and A.magna collected fromtheWestern
Ghats were marked on the anal tergite for recognition) were
released separately. Three replicate tanks weremaintained for
evaluating the manure production, composition and assessment.
On every week up to 4 weeks,millipedes, leaf litter and
faecal pelletswere separated.Each animalwasweighed (fresh
weight), faecal pellets (produced by four millipedes) accumulated
in each tank were spread, air-dried (48 h) and
weighed. Millipedes and leftover leaf litter were transferred
into the respective tanks on each week of harvest of manure.
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