Possessing a fake antenna on their tales, they trick hunters. These carnivorous crawlers prey on other insects, wrapping them up with their many legs and delivering a deadly sting. Unlike the tubular shape of millipedes, centipedes have flatter bodies that enable them to scurry along the ground quickly. Dependent upon the species, centipedes can have anywhere from 15 to 177 legs. When millipedes come under distress, they secrete a defensive toxin to ward off predators.Ĭentipedes only have one pair of legs per body segment and fewer legs than millipedes. For this reason, it is common for homeowners to find them around their home in garden beds, under rotting woodpiles, and in other moist locations. They need a damp living environment because millipedes don’t have a wax coat on their exoskeleton that helps them retain water. A millipede's diet typically consists of decaying leaves, fungi, and the occasional insect or snail. Their rounded bodies help them tunnel through terrain as they scavenge for food. Millipedes play an important part in the ecosystem as decomposers. As they grow, millipedes shed their old skin, then eat the skin for nutrients. On average, millipedes have between 400 to 750 legs, depending on the species. Contrary to what their name suggests, millipedes do not actually have a thousand legs. But, in all other areas, these myriapods are quite different.Ī millipede, which literally means “thousand” legs, has 2 pairs of legs per body joint. What’s the difference between them? Both creatures have a long worm-like body and antennae. It’s a common question about millipedes and centipedes.
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