Millipede Facts
Millipede Facts
2. There are about 8,000 different species of millipede.They live in the soil and feed mainly on rotting plants. Some can curl into balls!Millipedes have two pairs of legs on each segment but most have about a hundred legs (despite their name meaning “thousand legs!).
3. Millipedes, or “thousand-legged worms,” are brownish black or mottled with shades of orange, red, or brown, and are cylindrical (wormlike) or slightly flattened, elongated animals, most of which have two pairs of legs per body segment, except for the first three segments which have only one pair of legs.
4. Antennae are short, usually seven segmented, and the head is rounded with no poison jaws. Their short legs ripple in waves as they glide over a surface.
5. They often curl up into a tight “C” shape, like a watch spring, and remain motionless when touched. They range from 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches long depending on the species. They crawl slowly and protect themselves by means of glands that secrete an unpleasant odor.
6. Males have a “space” between the legs of the 7th segment, while female legs are the same on all segments.
7. The first segment comprises the head, which has a single pair of antennae, a cluster of “simple” eyes, and a mouth. Breathing pores are located on their sides. A hard, smooth, exoskeleton provides protection.
8. They can grow to be up to 12 inches long.
9. In order to grow, they must molt, or shed, their exoskeleton. As they molt, they grow additional body segments with legs.
10. Giant African millipedes are primarily nocturnal, preferring dark, damp areas where they can spend their time foraging and eating. They move their strong legs in a wave-like motion to burrow under leaves and other organic matter.
11. When startled, they will roll into a spiral, protecting their head and legs. They may also secrete a yellowish-brown fluid (hydrogen cyanide), which is a mild irritant to predators. If sufficient amounts are applied, it may be an irritant to people.
12. The male walks alongside the female and stimulates her with his legs. If receptive, she allows the male to slip under her. They wrap their entire bodies for about 2 turns, with the male deposits sperm on the female. She transfers the sperm to her eggs.
13. Giant African millipedes have a symbiotic relationship with mites which live on their exoskeleton and near their legs. They provide the mites with a home and food, and the mites keep the millipede’s exoskeleton clean by eating debris off of it. These mites are harmless to people.
14. There are over 1000 species of millipedes worldwide.
15. One way to distinguish a millipede from a centipede is by the number of legs and segments. Centipedes have 1 pair of legs per segment and legs emerge from the sides of each segment. Centipedes move in snake-like serpentine patterns and are carnivores (meat-eaters). Millipedes have 2 pairs of legs per segments, for the most part, and their legs emerge from underneath each segment. Millipedes move in a straight, forward manner and are herbivores (plant eaters).
16. The many legs do not give them speed, but rather power for digging through soil and debris.
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