We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Reptiles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Millipede?

By Lumara Lee
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 10,453
References
Share

A millipede is an invertebrate arthropod that has a segmented body. Most of its segments have four legs, and the number of segments varies. Members of the diplopoda class, there are many varieties which range from .08 inch (0.2 cm) in length to almost 12 inches (30 cm) long. The majority of millipedes are 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long. Coloration is mostly brown or black, with some sporting brighter shades of oranges and reds.

The millipede body generally is more rounded than that of a centipede, which only has two legs per segment. Millipedes move slowly and cannot bite or sting, but their hard shells offer some protection. In addition, they curl up when threatened, offering an armored surface to predators. The millipede has many predators, including birds, lizards, frogs, turtles, and small mammals.

Most millipedes have poor eyesight, and some are blind. These invertebrates eat decaying vegetation and live in damp locations under rotting logs, piles of leaves, and rocks. They reproduce via sexual reproduction, and the females lay clutches of 500 to 1,000 eggs.

Hatchlings molt as they grow, developing additional legs and segments each time they shed their skins. Although the word millipede means 1,000 legs, no millipedes have that many appendages. Most babies hatch with three pairs of legs, and the majority of the 10,000 species of millipedes have anywhere from 80 to 400 legs.

Millipedes are mostly nocturnal. They use their many legs to tunnel through the soil. The average millipede has a very short life span, but some specimens have been known to live for 10 years or more. Several species can excrete a foul-smelling liquid in defense when disturbed.

Some common types of millipede are pill, spotter, duff, bristly, and flat-backed. Pill millipedes are shiny, black bugs that average 18 pairs of legs and are around .79 inch (2 cm) long. Spotter millipedes are yellow with red spots and are garden pests that can damage bulbs and potatoes.

Duff millipedes are tiny bugs that are attracted to pine bark. They often enter homes that have damp environments. Bristly millipedes are brown and get their name from the coarse hair covering their bodies. Flat-backed millipedes don’t have rounded bodies like the others in its class and can be brown or white.

The African black giant is the largest millipede in the world. Native to Africa, the black giant reaches a length between 7.5 inches (19 cm) and 11 inches (28 cm) at maturity. Its docile nature makes it a popular pet with those who favor arthropods.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-millipede.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.