How Many Legs Does a Centipede Have - Centipede Legs How Many Legs Does a Centipede Have? Question: What Is the Number of Legs on a Centipede? While the word centipede literally means “100-footed,” most centipedes do not have 100 legs. The number of legs a centipede has depends upon the number of body segments that make up its body, and this number varies by species. Centipedes typically have one pair of legs per segment. A fully equipped adult centipede can have between 15 and 177 pairs of legs. Members of the Orders Lithobiomorpha and Scutigeromorpha have 15 pairs of legs. Unlike other centipede species, the Scutigera have long, multiarticulate, hairy legs, which enable them to establish a solid grip on the ground and move very quickly. However, Scutigera centipedes are not capable of pushing themselves through soil or into detritus. The house centipede has a rounded trunk with long, delicate legs, while the Geophilomorphs have long, slender bodies with up to 177 pairs of short legs.

The colorful Scolopendromorphs have from 21 to 23 pairs of legs. The body segment behind the centipede’s head contains two legs which have been modified into venomous fangs for hunting prey. To aid in balance and agility, the legs of most centipede species become progressively longer the farther away they are from the head. The last pair of legs trails behind the centipede’s body and is equipped with sensory bristles. These legs act as a supplementary pair of antennae, allowing centipedes to back out of tight spaces. Centipedes are capable of dropping their legs when their survival depends upon it and can regenerate these body parts after shedding them. Like millipedes, centipedes are arthropods with jointed legs. However, while millipedes have more than one pair of legs attached to each of their body segments, centipedes have only one pair per segment. The American house centipede (Scutigera coleopteran) has four pairs of legs after hatching and 15 as an adult. The additional body segments and legs come with each succeeding molt.

10 Fascinating Facts About Centipedes 10 Fascinating Facts About Centipedes 10 Fascinating Facts About Centipedes Interesting Behaviors and Traits of Centipedes Centipede. Getty Images/Danita Delimont By Debbie Hadley Updated May 09, 2016. Though centipedes inhabit almost every corner of the Earth, most people don't know much about the "hundred leggers." The house centipede sometimes startles people by showing up in bathtubs or sinks, but this is only one of an estimated 8,000 species in the Class Chilopoda . Want to learn more about them? Here are 10 cool facts about centipedes. 1. Centipedes are the only arthropods known to have "poison claws" for subduing prey. The legs of the centipede's first segment are not for walking. Instead, they're modified to form venomous fangs, which they use to inject paralyzing venom into prey. These special appendages are known as forcipules, and are unique to centipedes. 2. Centipedes do not have 100 legs.

Though their common name means "one hundred legs," centipedes can have significantly less or more than 100 legs. Depending on the species, a centipede can have as few as 15 pairs of legs, or as many as 171 pairs. Regardless of the species, centipedes always have an odd number of leg pairs, so they never have exactly 100 legs (because 50 pairs is an even number). continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World 3. Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment. This is the easiest way to differentiate centipedes and millipedes . Millipedes have two pairs of legs on most body segments, but centipedes always have a single pair of legs per segment. Not sure what you've found? Just count how many pairs of legs on a segment. 4. All centipedes are predators. Though some will occasionally scavenge a meal, centipedes are primarily hunters. Smaller centipedes will catch other invertebrates, including insects , mollusks, annelids, and even other centipedes.

The larger species, which inhabit the tropics, can consume frogs or even small birds. The centipede will usually wrap itself around the prey and wait for the venom to take effect before consuming the meal. 5. Centipedes can live for several years. Compared to most arthropods, centipedes are relatively long-lived critters. It's not unusual for a centipede to live 2-3 years, and some survive longer than 5 years. Centipedes continue to molt and grow as adults, unlike insects, which complete their growth when they reach adulthood. 6. Centipedes can regenerate lost legs. Should a centipede find itself in the grip of a bird or other predator, it can often escape by sacrificing a few legs. The bird is left with a beak full of legs, and the clever centipede makes a fast escape on those that remain. Since centipedes continue to molt as adults, they can usually repair the damage by simply regenerating legs. If you find a centipede with a few legs that are shorter than the others, it's likely in the process of recovering from a predator attack. 7. Some centipedes care for their young.

You probably wouldn't expect a centipede to be a good mother, but a surprising number of them dote on their offspring. Female soil centipedes (order Geophilomorpha) and tropical centipedes (order Scolopendromorpha) lay an egg mass in underground an burrow. The mother wraps her body around the eggs, and remains with them until they hatch, protecting them from harm. 8. Most centipedes are built for speed. With the exception of the slow-moving soil centipedes, which are built to burrow, Chilopods can run fast! A centipede's body is suspended between in a cradle of long legs. When those legs start moving, this gives the centipede more maneuverability over and around obstacles, as it flees predators or chases prey. The tergites – the dorsal surface of the body segments – may also be modified to keep the body from swaying while in motion. 9. Some centipedes add leg pairs as they develop. Though many centipedes hatch from their eggs with a full complement of leg pairs, certain kinds of Chilopods start life with less legs than their parents.

Stone centipedes (order Lithobiomorpha) and house centipedes (order Scutigeromorpha) start out with as as few as 14 legs, but add pairs with each successive molt until they reach adulthood. 10. Centipedes are prone to dehydration. Arthropods often have a waxy coating on the cuticle to help prevent water loss, but centipedes lack this waterproofing. Most centipedes live in moist environments, like under leaf litter or in damp, rotting wood. Those that inhabit deserts or other arid environments will often modify their behavior to minimize the risk of dehydration. They may delay activity until seasonal rains arrive, or when the humidity rises, for example, and diapause during the hottest, driest spells. Sources: The Biology of Centipedes, J.G.E. Lewis, Cambridge University Press, 2007 Encyclopedia of Insects, 2nd Edition, edited by Vincent H. Resh and Ring T. Carde, Academic Press, 2009 Control Millipedes and centipedes are not insects. They are actually more closely related to lobsters, crayfish and shrimp.

However, unlike their marine cousins, millipedes and centipedes are land dwellers. They are typically found in moist habitats or areas with high humidity and are most active at night. Millipedes and centipedes do not carry diseases that affect people, animals or plants. Millipedes do occasionally damage seedlings by feeding on stems and leaves, and may enter homes in large numbers during periods of migration and become a considerable nuisance. They do not cause damage inside the home, although they may leave a stain if they are crushed. Centipedes, which have poison glands and can bite, pose an occasional threat to humans. Description Millipedes are often called 1,000-legged worms or rain worms. They are wormlike, with rounded body segments that each bear two pairs of legs. The head is rounded with short antennae. Species can vary in length from less than 1 to 2 or more inches. They are typically light brown to black. Millipedes can climb walls easily and will often enter homes through foundation cracks above ground level. Millipede. Millipedes are not poisonous, but many species have glands capable of producing irritating fluids that may cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

The defensive sprays of some millipedes contain hydrochloric acid that can chemically burn the skin and cause long-term skin discoloration. The fluid can also be dangerous to the eyes. It is not advisable to handle millipedes with your bare hands. Persons handling millipedes may also notice a lingering odor on their hands. After contact with millipedes, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water until the odor is gone. The solvents ether or alcohol will also help remove the noxious fluid. Centipede. Centipedes are often called 100-legged worms and have one pair of legs on each of their body segments. All centipede species are more or less wormlike and have a flattened body with a distinct head that bears a pair of long antennae. Jaws containing poison glands are located on the first body segment immediately behind the head. Depending on the species, centipedes can vary in length from 1 to 12 or more inches when mature. The most common centipede species found in Georgia are less than 5 inches long. Centipedes vary in color from light yellow to dark brown and reddish brown. Most centipede species feed on small creatures such as insects.

They catch their prey with their powerful jaws and then kill it by injecting it with venom. Occasionally, humans may be bitten by centipedes, but the poison usually only produces a moderate reaction similar to a bee sting. People who are allergic to insect venoms and other toxins may suffer severe reactions to centipede venom. Most centipede bites are uncomplicated and self-limiting. Treatment recommendations include washing the bite site with soap and water, applying ice or cool wet dressings and taking analgesics for pain. Life Cycle and Habits Most millipedes are scavengers and feed primarily on decaying vegetation and leaf litter, although some species attack roots of living plants. Millipedes spend most of their lives in the soil where they also overwinter. In the spring, millipedes lay between 20 and 300 eggs in the soil. The eggs hatch in several weeks. Young millipedes have only the first three pairs of legs and no more than seven segments. With each molt, they add additional segments and legs until they reach sexual maturity — usually in two to five years, depending on the species. Millipedes sometimes migrate in large numbers, particularly after heavy rains in the late summer or as the weather cools.

Centipedes are found in a variety of habitats, but prefer dark, moist, protected areas such as under stones, rotted logs, leaves and bark. They overwinter as adults and lay eggs in the soil during the spring and summer. Development is slow, with some species developing through as many as 10 instars, or molts. A few species give birth to living young. Centipedes are relatively long-lived; some species have been known to live up to six years. House Centipede. The house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, is the only species capable of reproducing in homes and is often seen in and around homes where dampness occurs. This fact should not be overlooked, excessive moisture will provide habitat for a wide range of household pests and is indicative of a structural or functional problem in a home. The house centipede is active at night, moving about in search of cockroaches and other insects. Although centipedes rarely bite, are seldom dangerous and are beneficial because they destroy other insects, most people have an aversion to their presence inside their homes.

Control The first and most important step in controlling millipedes and centipedes is removing or eliminating objects that provide hiding places for the pest outside the home. Eliminate trash piles, rocks, boards, leaf piles, compost piles and similar materials from the immediate vicinity around the outside of the home. Secondly, physically exclude millipedes and centipedes from entering the home where possible. Make sure doors and windows fit tightly and caulk cracks and crevices that permit their entry to the inside. Foundation cracks and any gaps just above the foundation should be carefully sealed. If millipedes or centipedes occur in great numbers or are creating problems, applying pesticide around the building foundation and around doors and windows will provide temporary control. Refer to the current Georgia Pest Management Handbook for the latest recommendations concerning insecticides and pesticides. Pesticide may also be applied to mulched flower beds and heavily thatched turf areas where millipedes may be living. Include these areas in a treatment program during periods when millipedes are found inside the home in large numbers. Repeated applications may be necessary to maintain control during periods of heavy millipede migration. However, particular care should be taken to avoid any flowering plants and the pollinators that they draw.

Use products approved for in-home use to treat cracks and crevices along baseboards and other areas where centipedes and millipedes may hide. Contact sprays may be applied directly to millipedes and centipedes for quick control when they are found inside the home. Follow all pesticide label instructions closely for safe and effective use, particularly in the home. Most public health issues related to millipedes and centipedes can be prevented simply by avoiding the handling of these unique and interesting creatures. Status and Revision History Published on Jan 1, 2002 Re-published with minor revisions on Jan 26, 2009 Re-published on Jan 26, 2009 Reviewed on Jan 31, 2012 Re-published with minor revisions on Apr 1, 2015 Centipedes vs Millipedes - How to Tell Them Apart - DesertUSA How to tell them apart How do I tell the difference between a centipede and a millipede? The centipede ("hundred legs") and millipede ("thousand legs") have various similarities, reflecting their biological relationship.

Both, for instance, have common evolutionary roots, which extend back for more than 400 million years. Although related to lobsters, shrimp and crayfish, both are creatures of the land. Both have elongated, exoskeletal, segmented bodies. Both molt, extending the segments of their bodies. Both may live for several years. The centipede and the millipede also, however, have distinctive features. Comparison of Anatomy and Appearance The centipede has an elongated, flattened, exoskeletal body The millipede, in most species, an elongated, rounded, exoskeletal body The centipede has, attached to its head, two relatively long segmented antenna that serve for feeling and smelling The centipede has, on the trunk segment immediately behind the head, two modified venomous legs that it uses to capture and kill prey The millipede has two comparatively short segmented antenna that function as acutely sensitive sensors The millipeded has no venomous legs. The centipede's trunk segments each have a single pair of legs The millipede's segments, two pairs of legs Banded desert centipede.

Note that each segment has a single pair of legs; the head, to the right, has segmented antenna; and the final segment, to the left, has modified legs for mating and defense. Comparison of Defensive Strategies The centipede uses two modified legs on the last segment of its body trunk and two modified venomous legs on the first segment for defense; the millipede uses glands that run along its trunk to produce - and sometimes squirt - noxious chemicals that discourage predators. Comparison of Mobility The centipede, with comparatively long legs, can move swiftly for short distances in a sprint to capture prey or elude predators; the millipede, with its short legs, can only move laboriously as it forages in soil and plant litter for food. Comparison of Habitat Both being susceptible to desiccation, a centipede seeks out stony crevices, fallen leaves, rotting logs, and the damp nooks in your home; the millipede favors decaying vegetation. Comparison of Foraging As a predator, the centipede feeds on animals as diverse as insects, spiders, reptiles and birds; as scavengers and herbivores, most species of millipede feed on decaying plant material and sprouting seedlings.

Reproduction The centipede male deposits sperm bundles, entrusting females to find them and impregnate themselves. By contrast, the millipede male and female join in mating. Centipede and millipede females both typically lay their eggs in underground nests. The females of some centipede species abandon their eggs, leaving the broods to manage on their own; the females of other species nurtures their broods until the offspring can manage on their own. The females of all the various millipede species remain with their eggs until they hatch, and they nurture the offspring until they can manage on their own. Health and Medical Disclaimer Click here. Health and Medical Disclaimer The information provided on this web site and by this web site through content provided by Authors or third party providers, and in other sources to which it refers, is PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Information provided at and by DesertUSA is NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL CARE. If you have a medical concern, or suspect you have a health problem you should consult your primary doctor or specialist.

If you cannot agree to this Health and Medical Disclaimer, you are not permitted to use this web site and should exit immediately. How many legs does a millipede have? | Reference.com How many legs does a millipede have? A: Quick Answer Millipedes don't all have the same number of legs; the amount of legs a millipede has will depend on how many body segments it has. Millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment. Full Answer Though a millipede's name may seem to imply that it has millions of legs, this is a number that varies from millipede to millipede. They can be distinguished from centipedes because millipedes have two pairs of legs on each body segment instead of just one pair like centipedes. Millipedes' legs move slowly and in a wavelike motion, which may make it seem like the insect has many more legs than it actually does. Centipedes and Millipedes | Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County | University of Nebraska–Lincoln Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County Helping Nebraskans enhance their lives through research-based education.

Click on images for larger view Garden Centipede email this page to a friend Centipedes and millipedes are not insects because they have more than six legs, but they are closely related invertebrates. When outdoors, these invertebrates are innocuous organisms, but they may be considered pests when they share living space with us. Both of these groups of invertebrates have long, segmented bodies with either one pair (centipedes) or two pairs (millipedes) of legs on each segment. Their food preferences vary greatly. Centipedes: Centipedes have pair of poison claws behind the head and use the poison to paralyze their prey, usually small insects. However, the jaws of centipedes are weak and can rarely penetrate human skin. The rare individuals who are bitten may experience localized swelling and pain no worse than a bee sting. Although harmless, millipedes become a nuisance when they invade homes in large numbers The house centipede is found throughout the United States. This centipede can be found outside under stones, boards, or sticks or beneath moist leaf litter and other organic matter. When disturbed, centipedes move swiftly toward darkened hiding places.

When they are found in homes, they are often found in moist basements, damp closets and in bathrooms. Centipedes require moist habitats. If they are plentiful, there may be an underlying moisture problem that should be corrected. Millipedes: Millipedes are similar to centipedes, but have two pairs of legs per body segment. Some people mistakenly refer to them as "wireworms." (Wireworms are the larval stage of a beetle that feeds on roots of plants. See photo below) Millipedes are usually brown to blackish in color. The elongated body is rounded, no flattened, and they have no poison claws or legs. They usually coil up when disturbed, similar to the behavior exhibited by sowbugs or pillbugs (a related invertebrate). Mistaken Identity: It isn't unusual for people to refer to millipedes as "wireworms". In fact "wireworms" is a term commonly used by local residents when they are referring to millipedes. If you need to choose a control option for one of these pests, it is important to know which pest you really have! Millipedes are sometimes called "thousand-legged worms" because of their many legs (photo above).

Wireworms (photo below) are the larval stage of a beetle. They have only six legs and those are located near the head. Learn more about wireworms HERE Millipedes are usually restricted to moist places where they feed on organic matter. In the fall, they may become a nuisance because they migrate away from feeding areas and invade homes. Because they crawl along the ground, they are usually found in lower floors and basements. Once inside the home, they usually die due to desiccation, although in moist basements, they can survive longer. Millipedes live in organic matter (leaves, mulch, piles of wood or wood chips) and other material close to the house. Overmulching and/or overwatering in the garden can result in millipede attack on vegetable plants. Removing the organic debris or mulch materials near your home will help reduce the potential for invading millipedes. To discourage millipedes near the house: Remove mulch and dead vegetation adjacent to the house. Outdoors, you may wish to treat a 10-15 foot strip around the house perimeter with an insecticide. Do not forget to treat the exterior basement wall, window frames and door sills.

Carbamate insecticides (Baygon®, Ficam®, Sevin®) are recommended for outside control of millipedes because they are fast-acting. People and pets should stay off wet insecticides, but can safely walk on the yard once the insecticide is dry. Note: You should not expect insecticides to stop all of the millipedes from entering the home. Insecticides will only help reduce the number of millipedes you find. The safest and most environmentally sound way to control millipedes and centipedes already in the house is to step on them and vacuum or sweep them up. Damp hiding places can be treated with indoor insecticides labeled for this use. Be sure to read and follow label directions when using any insecticides. Use of commercial and trade names does not imply approval or constitute endorsement by UNL Extension. House Centipedes — Department of Entomology — Penn State University Contents Scutigera coleoptrata Centipedes, Class Chilopoda Centipedes are elongated, flattened arthropods with numerous legs – one pair per body segment. They are predaceous on many different arthropods including insects.

Although all centipedes have poison glands and the means to inject their venom, bites are infrequent and normally do not cause more than temporary, localized pain. Most centipedes can be found under boards, logs, rocks and other protected, damp locations outside. These centipedes are of little concern to homeowners. The house centipede, believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region, was introduced into Mexico and the Southern United States and has increased its distribution. It was first recorded in Pennsylvania in 1849. Today, the house centipede can be found in many buildings throughout the United States. It does not survive winters outdoors in Pennsylvania, but readily reproduces in heated structures. Because of their secretive nature, scary appearance and darting motions, homeowners typically fear the house centipede. In 1902, C.L.

Marlatt, an entomologist with the United States Department of Agriculture writes in Circular #48 – The House Centipede: “It may often be seen darting across floors with very great speed, occasionally stopping suddenly and remaining absolutely motionless, presently to resume its rapid movements, often darting directly at inmates of the house, particularly women, evidently with a desire to conceal itself beneath their dresses, and thus creating much consternation.” Undoubtedly, the current favor of blue jeans as a preferred article of clothing has not appreciably reduced the angst felt by the household “inmates” when a centipede is seen scurrying across the basement floor. Description Figure 1. Adult house centipede Figure 2. Immature house centipede The house centipede adult has 15 pair of legs with the last pair (on adult females) nearly twice the length of the body, which is one to one and one-half inches in length. This gives the centipede an overall appearance of being from three to four inches in length (including legs and antennae). The legs are banded light and dark, and the body is a dirty yellow with three longitudinal, dark stripes (Fig. 1).

Newly hatched larvae (rarely seen) have four pair of legs. During the next five larval molts, the centipedes will have 5, 7, 9 (Fig. 2), 11 and 13 pairs of legs. On the next molt the centipede is considered an adolescent and will have 15 legs during each of the next four molts – when it becomes an adult. Life History and Behavior There are six larval instars or molts, and four post-larval instars before the centipedes reach maturity. Females have been known to survive for several years and produce numerous offspring (maximum of 150). During the daytime, the centipedes inhabit dark, damp locations in the home and come out at night to forage for prey. House centipedes feed on silverfish, firebrats, carpet beetle larvae, cockroaches, spiders and other small arthropods. If house centipedes are seen frequently, this indicates that some prey arthropod is in abundance, and may signify a greater problem then the presence of the centipedes.

Locations within structures that have been known to provide safe harborage for house centipedes include: Beneath concrete slabs – the centipedes enter the house through expansion cracks, around sump pump openings or other breaks in slab integrity; Inside cement block walls – the centipedes can enter through uncapped blocks, missing mortar between blocks and around pipes where they pass through the walls; In floor drains without water traps – especially those drains that are connected to dry sumps; Under and in cardboard boxes that are stored on slabs; In any damp, cool location, such as unexcavated areas (crawl spaces) under the house. Management Modify the Habit Reduction in the centipede food source is the first step in managing a house centipede population. Determine what other types of arthropods, in your house, are providing a meal for the centipedes by distributing ‘sticky insect traps’, also called monitors, around the house. These monitors (and the service for identifying the specimens) can be obtained through a pest control company. Harborage reduction is the second most important management tactic. Close, with appropriate fillers, cracks and crevices in concrete slabs and block walls.

Seal the covers to sump pumps with screen and caulk. Install window screen in basement floor drains to prevent centipedes from entering from dry sumps. Reduce the humidity by utilizing dehumidifiers. Grade the soil around the building to facilitate water movement away from the foundation. Application of Pesticides Insecticides that are effective for centipedes and labeled for use in the home are formulated as either emulsifiable concentrates or wettable powders that are mixed with water for application as a spray, or as dusts. Sprays that are available for homeowner use include many of the synthetic pyrethroids such as cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, permethrin or tralomethrin Dusts are either boric acid or diatomaceous earth – both which are inorganic insecticides and have very low risk to mammals. Sprays or dusts should be applied to sites where centipedes are suspected such as cracks and crevices in concrete slabs, block walls, etc. Warning Pesticides are poisonous. Read and follow directions and safety precautions on labels. Handle carefully and store in original labeled containers out of the reach of children, pets, and livestock.

Dispose of empty containers right away, in a safe manner and place. Do not contaminate forage, streams, or ponds. Authored by: Steve Jacobs, Sr. Extension Associate Reviewed: January 2013 Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research, extension, and resident education programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Visit Penn State Extension on the web: Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied. This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination . © The Pennsylvania State University 2017 Centipedes - DesertUSA Centipedes Health and Medical Disclaimer Click here. Centipedes, with an evolutionary lineage dating back more than 400 million years, share ancestral roots with lobsters, shrimp and crayfish. Worldwide, some 3000 modern species have been discovered and described by scientists, who estimate that another 5000 species await discovery and description.

The centipedes' menacing appearance, secretive hideaways, nocturnal predation and wide diversity have given rise to a bewildering patchwork of facts, questions and folklore. In the United States' arid Southwest, the centipede - like the scorpion, tarantula, rattlesnake and coyote - holds the status of icon. At the Hueco Tanks State Historic site, in far western Texas, the centipede is celebrated in a rock art image painted by a Native American shaman centuries ago. Appearance and Anatomy of a Centipede elongated, flattened, exoskeletal body a head with distinctive antenna a segmented trunk with numerous legs the head is encased within a shield a three-part mouth that serves for feeding and grooming simple eye clusters, in some species, that provide for light detection segmented antenna that function for feeling and smelling just forward of the eyes, a "Tomosvary" organ that serves for some unknown purpose, although it may provide sensing humidity, light, pressure or sound.

the trunk formed, always, by an odd number of membranous-connected segments, each equipped with a single pair of legs and each protected by a hard plate on the top and another on the bottom Individual Segments: first segment (behind the head) has legs modified to serve as venomous claws used for capturing and administering a fatal "bite" last segment has legs modified for use in defense and mating intermediate segments each, generally, have segmented legs that terminate in a claw in the membranous-connecting tissues, spiracles, or small openings, that facilitate internal gas exchange (or breathing). claw-tipped Legs are covered with hairs or with spines that serve as sensors and with pores that have an unknown function right legs move forward and left legs move backward and vice versa the legs propel the centipede at speeds as high as two feet per second claws on some species can inflict tiny cuts in flesh and conduct venom into the wounds. the heart is a tube running the length of the trunk Range and Habitat Centipedes occur worldwide, except for the Polar Regions, with the highest abundances in the tropics.

Lacking an exoskeletal waxy layer that would protect them from desiccation, centipedes typically hunt their prey in the cool of the night and take daytime shelter in damp microenvironments, for instance, within stony crevices, fallen leaves, rotting logs, bathrooms, and basement corners. Foraging, Prey and Predators As swift and nimble predators with indiscriminate appetites, centipedes feed on a broad range of prey, which may include small amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds as well as earthworms, insects and even adult tarantulas. A centipede clutches and kills its prey with the venomous claws connected to the segment behind the head. In spite of their venomous bites and their unappetizing appearance, centipedes fall prey to various mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, spiders, scorpions, and even other centipedes. Life Cycle Shunning copulation, male centipedes simply deposit their sperm bundles, which, they trust, females will find and use to impregnate themselves. In some species, the male performs a courtship dance to advertise his bundle. In other species, the male just walks away from his bundle and hopes for the best.

In temperate regions, females lay their eggs in the spring and summer; in subtropical and tropical regions, they may lay eggs throughout the year. In some species, the female may lay several dozen eggs in holes in the soil then promptly abandon her embryo to hatch and manage on their own. In other species, the female may lay several dozen eggs in the soil or in rotted wood then remain to protect and care for her brood until her offspring can survive on their own. Depending on the species, centipedes may reach adulthood and sexual maturity within one to three years. They may live for several years. Generally, centipedes still have much to reveal about their life cycle. Taxonomy Given their diversity, behavior and legendary aura, centipedes appear to defy a classification universally agreeable to science, although they obviously comprise one of the five groups of multi-legged arthropods - those with exoskeletons, segmented bodies and multiple jointed legs. In the Southwestern United States, the better known species include the giant desert centipede (Scolopendra heros), the banded desert centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha), and the house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata).

The giant desert centipede, which includes three colorful subspecies, has more than two dozen segments and typically measures 8 to 10 inches in length, making it one of the larger in the world. The banded desert centipede, which has considerable color variability, has a dark band across the back edge of each segment and measures perhaps six inches in length. The house centipede, which has three dark stripes that run longitudinally along the back of its trunk, typically has 15 pairs of long, threadlike, striped legs and measures about one and a half to two inches in length. Aggressiveness A centipede may bite you in self-defense if it feels crowded or gets squeezed. A larger one can cause a painful wound. A smaller one cannot usually bite through human skin to inject venom. Statistically, centipedes appear to inflict fewer injuries than do bees, wasps, scorpions or ants. A Few Centipede Facts The fossil of a 300-million-year-old centipede called Euphoberia measured nearly 40 inches in length and ranks as the largest on record.

A modern centipede known as the Amazonian giant centipede, or Scolopendra gigantea, measures some 12 inches in length and ranks as the largest living species. The Amazonian giant centipede sometimes preys on bats, even catching them in flight. When a centipede molts, it leaves behind, in its shed skin, an exact replica of itself, including head, trunk and all legs. The house centipede - as well as several other species - may sacrifice a leg when threatened, leaving the twitching limb behind to - hopefully - distract a predator and cover an escape. It replaces the leg during its next molt. A centipede may bleed to death rapidly if it suffers an injury that penetrates its body wall. Health and Medical Disclaimer The information provided on this web site and by this web site through content provided by Authors or third party providers, and in other sources to which it refers, is PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Information provided at and by DesertUSA is NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL CARE.

If you have a medical concern, or suspect you have a health problem you should consult your primary doctor or specialist. If you cannot agree to this Health and Medical Disclaimer, you are not permitted to use this web site and should exit immediately. UPLB Museum of Natural History - The many legs of the millipede The many legs of the millipede Details Flor Cruz Published: 17 March 2014 Millipedes, just like centipedes, are arthropods -- they have bodies made up of numerous segments. Newly hatched millipedes usually have only three pairs of legs, adding legs as they grow. But contrary to what its name may imply, the millipede does not have a thousand legs. In fact, Illacme plenipes which is a very thin millipede and considered to be the world’s leggiest animal only has 750 legs. The first four segments of a millipede bear three single pairs of legs, while the succeeding segments all have two pairs. But with that many legs, how does a millipede use them?

Veverle San Juan, a project entomologist at the UPLB Museum of Natural History says that millipede legs have various special uses. First pair: Roughing it "The first pair of the millipede's legs are mainly used for eating leaf litter, decomposing materials, microbes, and fungi," San Juan shared during the Museum's recent Biodiversity Seminar Series last 12 March 2014. Do millipedes eat live organisms and plants? "It is hardly believable that millipedes can eat live animals but millipede infesting crops is common in temperate countries. In the Philippines, we have a 2011 report of a "millipede attack" on crops in Itbayat, Batanes but it should be also verified,” she said. Pair number two: Dribble, aim and dunk The second pair of legs, in all adult male millipedes, carries the gonopore or the outlet of the male reproductive system. Interestingly, this second pair of legs must hand off the semen onto a pair of gonopods, which then inserts (the semen) into the females' cycophods or vulvae.

"When male and female millipedes face each other to mate, the female’s vulvae at its 2nd segment is aligned with the male’s gonopod (at the 7th segment),” San Juan explained. "So basically, the male hands off its semen to the more specialized gonopods in its seventh segment which then goes deep into the vulvae for insemination," she elaborated. Pairs three, four and five Pair number three, San Juan reported, is the last singular leg in the millipede’s body and is used for walking. “The fourth and fifth pair of legs are also just walking legs, but are considered special because they are on the fifth segment, where ozopores are found,” she followed. In the fifth segment of the millipede, and other segments further the millipede body, there exists openings called ozopores. "Millipedes have special glands that produce noxious chemicals, and they are released via the ozopores during self-defense," San Juan added. According to San Juan, “once under threat, millipedes coil to protect its head and its first four segments which are defenseless," the speaker said.

Some millipedes have hard exoskeletons, while a few have modified extensions called keels, making them look spiny and become less of a treat to larger predators. Six and further: Not just for walking San Juan shared that beyond the millipede's 3rd leg pair, the practical use for having that many legs is not only just for the long walks. These also provide strength and support for bulldozing, burrowing and wedging. “Further down a millipede’s body, with the exception of the seventh where the gonopods are located, the legs have no other modifications or special functions,” she added. "But mind you, even though millipedes are very small and slow creatures, their presence in several areas can indicate geographical connections," San Juan explained. According to San Juan, "these organisms cannot fly nor be carried by wind; if we find the same millipedes in two separate areas bounded by water, it is either they have been brought there or, more interestingly, the two areas must have been connected by land in the past." San Juan, a licensed forester and a recent MS Entomology graduate has discovered in 2010 with MNH Director Ireneo L. Lit, Jr.

two new species of flat-backed millipedes in Polillo Island in Quezon. In her studies, San Juan also contends that it is very likely that new myriapod taxa await discovery elsewhere in Polillo and in the entire Philippine archipelago. Presently, her search for Philippine Platyrhacidae (flatback millipedes) have extended the range of occurrence of these millipedes. The Platyrhacidae has now been recorded in several areas in Luzon mainland, islands in the Visayas and a location in Mindanao.# Search our Site

Question: With the exception of the last two segments, how many legs does a centipede have on each segment?
Answer: 2