MillipedeDiplopoda — habitat, diet and reproduction

Long, segmented black millipede with many pairs of legs on dry leaves

Millipede (Diplopoda) among dry leaves. · Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). Cropped and resized.

Millipedes, scientifically called diplopods, are invertebrates with long bodies made of many segments, each bearing two pairs of legs. They live in soil, under leaves and logs, where they eat decaying plant matter. When frightened, they curl into a spiral and may release a foul-smelling fluid.

Quick facts

Common name	Millipede, diplopod
Scientific name	Diplopoda (class)
Lifespan	From one year to over 7 years, by species
Length	From about 2 mm to about 35 cm, by species
Diet	Detritivore: dead leaves, rotting wood, fungi
Predators	Birds, hedgehogs, frogs, lizards, centipedes
Conservation status	Most species not evaluated
Distribution	Every continent except Antarctica
Habitat	Moist soil, leaf litter, under stones and logs, caves
Family	Several orders and families in class Diplopoda
Legs	Two pairs on most segments

Primary category:Invertebrates
Explore this animal's categories:
Animals of Africa Animals of Asia Animals of Australia Animals of Europe Animals of North America Animals of Romania Animals of Romania’s forests Animals of Romania’s gardens and parks Animals of South America Arthropods Burrowing animals Egg-laying animals Forest animals Invertebrates M Nocturnal animals Wild animals

Interesting facts

The English name “millipede” means “thousand feet”, but until 2021 no millipede with that many was known.
In 2021 a millipede with 1,306 legs, Eumillipes persephone, was described from Australia.
Millipedes have no venom and do not bite people, unlike centipedes.
Some species glow in the dark or release substances that smell of bitter almonds.

Characteristics

Millipedes have long, cylindrical or flattened bodies covered with a hard shell. Most segments carry two pairs of short legs, hence the scientific name diplopods, “double-footed”.

The head has a pair of short antennae. Colours vary: brown, black, grey, or red and yellow in tropical species. With each moult they add new segments and legs.

Behaviour

Millipedes move slowly, with waves passing along their rows of legs. They are active mainly at night and in damp weather, as they dry out easily.

When touched, they curl into a spiral to protect their soft underside. Many have glands that release an unpleasant fluid that can stain skin but is not dangerous if you wash your hands.

Habitat and distribution

Millipedes live on every continent except Antarctica, from rainforests to caves and gardens. More than 12,000 species are known.

In Romania they are common in woods, under leaves and logs, in gardens and sometimes in damp cellars.

Diet and feeding

Millipedes feed mainly on dead leaves, rotting wood and fungi. They shred plant debris and help form humus, the fertile layer of soil.

A few species eat roots or seedlings and can do minor damage in gardens and greenhouses. They are food for many small forest animals.

Reproduction and life cycle

Males transfer sperm using modified legs. The female lays eggs in soil, sometimes in a small nest of earth and droppings.

The hatchling has few segments and only a few pairs of legs. Each moult adds segments and legs until it becomes adult, after one or more years.

Name and history

The word “myriapod” comes from the Greek “myrias” (ten thousand) and “pous” (foot). In the broad sense, myriapods include both millipedes and centipedes such as scolopendras.

The difference is easy to see: millipedes have two pairs of legs per segment, are slow and have no venom, while centipedes have one pair per segment, are fast and have venomous claws.

Conservation and threats

Most millipede species have not been assessed. Some cave species or those with tiny ranges are vulnerable to habitat destruction.

In gardens millipedes are useful, turning plant debris into soil. Keeping leaf litter and dead wood helps them. If they come indoors, they can be carried outside, where they find the moisture they need.