Diploda/ Diplopoda

By: Jonathan Smeal

Diploda or Diplopoda is the scientific name of the Millipedes

Millipedes
are
segmented
insects
that
are
born
with
only
four
segments
but
as
they
grow
they


molt
and
loose
their
exoskeleton.
The
;irst
few
segments
have
no
legs
and
some
after
have
only
1

set
of
legs.
As
the
millipede
grows
and
sheds
its
exoskeleton
it
digests
it
and
uses
it
for
energy.

Transport Millipedes can lay between 10 and 300 eggs at a

Millipede move
thanks to a series of
many short legs that
propel the body
forward. A millipede
has a very small
digestive track that
allows it to obtain and use the nutrition if gets from
its diet.
Nutrition
Most millipedes are herbivorous, and feed on
decomposing plant material. A few species are
omnivorous or carnivorous, and may prey on smaller
arthropods, such as insects and centipedes, or on
earthworms. Some species have piercing mouthparts
that allow them to feed on plant juices.
Reproduction
Male millipedes can be differentiated from female
millipedes by the presence of one or two pairs of
legs modified into gonopods. These modified legs
are usually on the seventh segment. A few species
are parthenogenetic, having few, if any, males.
time.
Response to stimuli
Millipedes can protect themselves from danger by
curling into a ball that and often secret toxic
chemicals. Millipedes have a pair of antennae to help
with scenery but also have sight and feeling.
Adaptation
Millipedes have the ability to grow extra segments to
adapt to the changing environment. With the extra
segments the millipede can move more easily and
swiftly.
Respiration
Millipedes
breathe
through
two
pairs
of

spiracles
(Spiracles
are
small
openings
on

the
surface
of
some
animals
that
usually

lead
to
respiratory
systems.)
on
each

diplosegment
(segment
with
2
sets
of

legs).
Each
opens
into
an
internal
pouch,

and
connects
to
a
system
of
tracheae.
 Millipedes Cont. Regulation
Millipedes maintain homeostasis by regulating its ingestion of plant
matter and dead and decaying plant life.

Place in food chain

Millipedes are relatively low in the food chain due to the fact that they
only eat dead and decaying matter. The carnivorous millipedes are
slightly higher.

Background of group
All millipedes are segmented (to a degree) in the same way, some just have different numbers of segments. A
low segmented millipede is the European Pill Millipede as shown below. Millipedes also have similar body
segmentations as the centipedes, other than the fact that centipedes only have 1 set of legs per segment.

Similar organisms
There are over 140 different families of millipedes stretched all across
the globe to places even humans couldn’t survive. Some millipedes are
even found at the poles of the earth.

“Oddball”
The “Oddball” of the millipedes is the Pill Millipedes from Europe and
the Philippine's.

Symmetry
Millipedes all for the most part have bilateral symmetry meaning that they could be cut in half horizontally and
be mirror images.

Extinct or Endangered
Two examples of extinct millipedes are Cylindroiulus caeruleoinctus and
Iulus scanicus

Importance to humans
Millipedes are used in the composting process. Millipedes ingest the
excess dead and decaying plant material to fertilize the soil.

Interesting Facts
Millipedes due to their gentle nature and lack of the ability to bite or pinch and their simple diet have been
known to make great pets. Although Millipede in Latin means “thousand legs” they usually only have between
36 and 400 legs.

References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millipede
http://www.answers.com/topic/diplopoda-2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiracle
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091011023641AAZlAve
http://blog.ecosmart.com/wp-content/millipede_small.jpg