Narceus americana
Copyright, William R. Elliot
Narceus americana
Copyright, William R. Elliot
North American Millipedes
are one of many species of millipedes in our area. This
species grows quite large, over three inches long. They have
rounded, segmented bodies and many legs. They are usually
black, with pink, purple, or yellow on the edges of
segments. Each segment of the
millipede has four legs (two pair), except for the first
three segments, which only have two legs (one pair). Despite
all their legs, millipedes move very slowly. Millipedes have
one pair of short antennae. North American Millipedes
live in woods and fields, anywhere there is darkness and
moisture. They are usually found underneath logs or dead
leaves. ©David M.
Barron/oxygengroup, http://www.oxygengroup.com/
Mark Moran
Millipedes eat dead and
decaying
plant matter,
such as old leaves, stems, and flowers. They also eat
fungi
that is on the plant matter, and sometimes they eat partly
decayed animals, such as earthworms, snails, and insects.
Millipedes are very important, because they help put
nutrients
back in the soil for plants and other organisms
to use. Millipedes have tiny
holes, called spiracles,
on the sides of their segments. They breathe through these
holes and must stay in places where there is
moisture. North American Millipedes
are mostly nocturnal,
coming out to feed at night.
After millipedes mate,
the female eats some soil and poops it out. She shapes the
poop into a nest and lays hundreds of eggs in it. She then
leaves the eggs. When young millipedes are
born, they only have seven segments and six legs (3 pair).
They grow quickly though, and as they grow they
molt
(shed skin). With each molt, the young millipede grows new
segments and legs. North American Millipedes
can live for several years. Millipedes have
predators,
but they also have some good defenses. First, if a millipede
feels threatened it can roll up tightly into a coil, with
its head and legs turned inward. This way its hard
exoskelton
(shell) protects the soft parts of its body. If that doesn't work, the
millipede lets out a foul-smelling chemical which makes it
unappetizing to many predators. Even with these defenses,
millipedes are eaten by frogs, lizards, some beetles, and a
few birds. Their main predators, though, are shrews.
Millipedes are one of the shrew's favorite
snacks. Rosamond
Purcell
Copyright, John White
Download
Quicktime if you are unable
to play video.
Relationships in Nature:
Relationship to Humans:
Sometimes, millipedes (usually smaller species) crawl into homes. If there are many of them, they can be annoying, but they don't do any damage. Mostly, millipedes are very helpful, recycling old dead plants back into the soil.