Hiltonius

This moderate-sized genus contains 22 species distributed from Central America up to Southern California in the USA (2). Currently only (as far as can be seen) two species have been kept in captivity, H. hebes and H. pulchrus, though there is ongoing confusion on what is Hiltonius and what is misidentified Tylobolus (3). There are roughly ten species of Hiltonius found in California, where the majority of Hiltonius in the hobby are collected, though most collectors are seemingly unaware of this, as evidenced by the fact of collecting specimens generally being labeled either hebes or pulchrus regardless of collection locale or appearance.

Standard millipede care is all that is required for all Hiltonius species available. Breeding has been confirmed for one species from San Diego.

Specimens reach to about 3"-4"/7.5-10.2 cm. H. hebes is generally a brownish/chocolate coloration with faint, red/brown banding, while H. pulchrus tends to have an olive coloration with red to orange bands.

Breeding Report of Hiltonius sp. "San Diego", by Rus Wilson (4)

The enclosure is a standard 6-quart Sterilite tub with my isopod/millipede substrate (organic compost/soaked oak/alder pellets/hardwood leaves). I did not subject them to seasonal changes on purpose, but the room does vary seasonally with regards to temperature. The room is about 65-68F at night in the winter, and about 72F in the daytime. In the summer, it is closer to 75-78F all day and night.

Behaviorally they are fairly active at the surface, but pretty deliberate about movement, and quite likely to release repugnatorial fluid when handled, though I do not handle them often, so that might change with more frequent human contact.

I am really not sure about the exact species designation. A biologist sent them to me in December of 2019, and she collected them in San Diego. I haven't counted the babies really, but I would say there are a few dozen; I wasn't particularly expecting babies, but just found a lot of them in the bin one day. The biggest adults I have seen are probably about 3 inches.

Videos of Hiltonius sp. "San Diego," compliments of Rus Wilson (5-6).

Hiltonius sp. sold as "California Millipede." Photos compliments of Francis Judd (7).

  1. Sierwald, P.; Spelda, J. (2021). MilliBase. Hiltonius Chamberlin, 1918. Accessed at: https://www.millibase.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=891742 on 2021-11-13

  2. Sierwald, P.; Spelda, J. (2021). MilliBase. Hiltonius vulcan (Chamberlin, 1953). Accessed at: https://millibase.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=947018 on 2021-11-13

  3. Smokehound714. (2014). Hiltonius pulchrus. Pede Picture Thread. Nov, 22 Post #20. https://arachnoboards.com/threads/pede-picture-thread.269028/#post-2331063

  4. Wilson, R. (N.A.). Breeding Report of Hiltonius sp. “ San Diego”. Via Email.

  5. Aquarimax Pets. (2019). Millipede Unboxing. Video. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GxBWex6tw0

  6. Aquarimax Pets. (2020). Hiltonius pulchrus Millipede update + Q&A. Video. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI8z2xzvfiA

  7. Judd, F. (N.A.). Hiltonius sp. Sold as “California Millipede. Photograph. Photographs 1-3. Permission Granted to TMED.