Millipedes


 * //__Millipede Life__//**

** Body Characteristics and Body Systems: ClaudiaChidiac: ** Millipedes have long bodies with many segments, many legs, simple eyes, joint legs and a pair of antennae. Millipedes have 2 pairs of legs per segment. This is because each is actually formed by the combination of two developing segments. It is called a ‘diplosegment’ or double segment. The first few segments behind the head are not combined in this way. The first segment is completely legless. Most millipedes have very long cylindrical bodies. The length of a millipede can go from 2-280 millimeters long and can have 11 to over 100 segments. Their skin is mainly black and white but a few species of millipedes are colored. The most obvious characteristic of a millipede is its large number of legs. Having many short legs slows down a millipede. Millipedes although are very powerful. Their bodies have segmented sections which make them move in a wave-like pattern. So with their legs and body length moving in the wave-like pattern, they can go head first underground. They can also reinforce a tunnel by rearranging the particles around it. The head of a millipede is round from above and flat from below. Many millipedes have an opening on either side of each body segment, so they can release a smelly, brown fluid when disturbed or attacked.  Millipedes breathe through two pairs of spiracles (a small paired opening on the side of a millipede through which air enters and leaves) on each diplosegment. Each opens into an internal pouch and connects to a system of tracheae (breathing tube). The heart runs the entire length of the body, with a vein stretching into the head. The excretory (expel waste from the body) organs are two pairs of tubules (a very small tubular part), located near the mid-part of the gut. The head has a pair of sensory organs called Tömösváry organs. These are found below and sideways to the antennae, and are shaped as small oval rings at the bottom of the antennae. They are used to measure the humidity in their surroundings. A millipede’s eyes has a number of flat lensed ocelli (simple eyes in invertebrates) arranged in a group on the front/side of the head.

** __Uses of Millipedes:__ ** Nadim Hawa 1) M any mammals are predators of millipedes including Elephant shrews, Water shrews and Hedgehogs, Cape Dormice and Mongoose. They are also eaten by Frogs, Lizards, Tortoises and Birds such as Francolins, Guinea Fowl, Herons and various Robins to name just a few. Other invertebrates such as Reduviid Bugs, Scorpions, Carabid Beetles and Staphylinid Beetles will eat millipedes as will a few species of Ants, though most ants tend to leave millipedes alone.

2) Millipedes are considered beneficial because of their role in helping break down plant material and provide the soil with nutrients. Some species of millipedes feed on living plants when their normal food source becomes dried out. In structures, they may feed on rotting wood but will not attack sound wood.

Refrences: [|http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G7362]

__Reproduction:__ Nadim Hawa

Male and Female Millipedes usually have to mate to produce offspring, Millipedes can be defrenciated from female millipedes by the presence of two or more pairs of legs modified into gonopods. Millipedes breed in spring and summer. The females lay 50-100 eggs in small chambers, and the eggs hatch after about 2-3 weeks.The female millipede lays eggs in or on the soil under decaying plant material. Millipede males must first spin a web on which they deposit their sperm. The female then approaches the web and puts the sperm into her own reproductive organs. In some millipedes a male coaxes a female to mate with squeaking noises made by rubbing the bases of his legs against his body. He then grasps the female's body with his legs. A sperm packet is released behind his head and passed back from one pair of legs to the next like a conveyor belt, until it reaches the reproductive organs of the female. In other pill millipedes the male covers the sperm packet in dirt before passing it back with his legs to his mate's reproductive organs.

Refrences: Nadim : : [|http://www.animals.jrank.org/pages/2550/Millipedes-Diploma-BEHAVIOR-REPRODUCTION.html]

__Feeding Habits__ ​ Daniel Faddoul: Millipedes(Diplopoda)have streched out bodies, much like their close relatives the centipedes(Chilopoda), but they are different from centipedes in having two pairs of legs on most body segments instead of just one pair.Most millipedes are herbivores that move slowly,they feed mainly on decaying plant matter. However, they sometimes eat living plants, especially seeds and young seedlings, and usually extend the wounds on roots, tubers, bulbs and corms that have been caused by other plant-feeding invertabrates such as slugs and insect grubs. The garden plants,which are most commonly attacked are pea been seeds and seedlings, strawberry fruits, potatoto tubers, carrots, cucumbers and the bulbs of lillies, daffodils and tulips. Thus, they also feed on decomposing vegetation or organic matter that is mixed with soil. A few species are ominvors and carnivors, and may eat smaller athropods as thier prey, such as insects, centipedes, and earthworms. Some species have sharp and piercing mouthparts that allow them to feed on juices of the plants. They also have a digestive tract, which is a simple tube with two pairs if salivary glands to help digest the food. Many millipeds moisten their food with saliva before eating it. To add, while millipedes feed on decaying plant matter,they are performing as decomposeres to the ecosystem.Newly hatched millipedes must swallow microbes to help them digest plant matter.They present these neccesary partners into their systems by feeding on fungi,soil or by eating their own feces(poop). __Refrences:__ Daniel Faddoul [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millipedes] [|http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/millip.htm] [|�4�] [|http://insects.about.com/od/centipedesmillipedes/p/millipedes.htm] [|http://magickcanoe.com/millipede/eating-moss-sm.jpg]

References: Nicolas Abou Haidar [|http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/millip.htm] __[|http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2004/1-16-2004/centimilli.html]__

Habitat : NicolasAbou Haidar : Millipedes usually live in dark damp habitats, but Archispirostreptus syriacus and Orthoporus ornatus (types of millipedes) prefer dry habitats and live in deserts. Most species are under leaf litter, woodpiles, and stones. Soil dwellers are usually found in the top inch or two of soil. A few species climb trees. For example, some species of bristly millipedes live in the small cracks in tree bark. Although many millipedes are active at night, pill millipedes, such as Glomeris marginata, are usually active during the day. Millipedes prefer to live outdoors in damp habitats. They can be found under logs, mulch, leaves and rocks.

1)  By Nicolas Abou Haidar  --  >  Difference Between Millipedes And Centipedes: Millipedes feed on decaying plant matter and are important decomposers. Centipedes are predators and eat insects, and other small arthropods. Millipedes are brown to black in color and usually 1 to 1 1/2 inch long. They have a smooth cylindrical body and will curl up when disturbed or dead. You can tell the difference between millipedes and centipedes by looking at the legs. Millipede legs are short and underneath the body, but centipede legs are long and stick out along the sides of their bodies. Millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment, when centipedes have one pair per segment.
 * ** Extra Questions: ** ||
 * ** 1. State the differences between centipedes and millipedes. ** ||
 * ** 2. Are millipedes harmful to humans? Explain .** ||



2) Joseph Azar : Due to the millipedes lack of speed and their inability to bite or sting, millipedes' primary defense mechanism is to curl into a small ball — protecting their delicate legs inside an armored body exterior. Many species also emit poisonous liquid secretions or hydrogen called cyanide gas through microscopic pores called odoriferous glands along the sides of their bodies as a secondary defense. Some of these substances are caustic and can burn the exoskeleton of ants and other insect predators, and the skin and eyes of larger predators. Animals such as Capuchin monkeys have been observed intentionally irritating millipedes in order to rub the chemicals on themselves to repel mosquitoes.. At least one species, Polyxenus fasciculatus employs detachable bristles to entangle ants. Millipedes are sometimes dangerous to humans because they might be threatened or the humans touched it.

Bibliography: [|www.wikipedia.com]