Millipedes

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Diplopoda Order: Spirobolida Family: Spirobolidae

Millipedes are long rounded (worm like) arthropods with many segmented plates, called diplosegments for the two leg pairs on each segment (Hopkin & Read, 1992). Many small legs create an almost seamless movement as they glide across the ground. The segmented plates overlap allowing them to be very flexible in the sense that they can curl up into a ball. Millipedes are nocturnal feeders, mainly feeding on plant matter.

Diet: Most millipedes are detritovores, feeding on decaying leaves and other plant matter (Hopkin & Read, 1992). Some millipedes feed on fungi, living plants, algae, or even tree bark.

Courtship: Courtship is initiated with antennal contact, followed by the release of chemical pheromones. Some species of millipedes make courtship sounds by stridulating their legs together. The next move is made by the male, he nibbles at her neck delicately, enticing her to turn towards him (Preston-Mafham, 1990). The whole time the millipedes are entangling their bodies, holding tight with their many legs. The male has specialized sex organs, modified and enlarged leg appendages to inject sperm into the female.

Defense Mechanisms: The millipede’s jointed segments that allow flexibility also double as an armor shell. Their hard, smooth exoskeleton makes it hard for other insects to grasp them or penetrate when attacking. A common defensive response of millipedes is to curl into a tightly wound ball with its head at the center. A more aggressive type of defense common to certain species of millipedes is a chemical spray. Most millipedes have stink glands that secrete a pungent smelling spray upon attack. Some species have even developed glands that can excrete cyanide with potential of killing predators (Preston-Mafham, 1990).

=References= Hopkin, S. P., & Read, H. J. (1992). //The Biology of Millipedes.// Oxford: Oxford Science Publications.

Preston-Mafham, K. (1990). //Centipedes & Millipedes.// New York: The Bookwright Press.