Millipede Polydesmida (Sigmoria aberrans) Items Mouse Pad

Millipedes are harmless arthropods (no fangs) that generally eat dead or dying vegetation and help break it down to soil. They have many segments to their body and most segments have two pairs of legs. When bothered, they will roll into a ball and stay that way until they think all is safe. It can take a millipede from 2 to 5 years to become an adult (each time they moult they gain a segmnt), and they can live for quite a few years. Their colours range from drab brown to bright orange, yellow and black – sizes and shapes also vary. They have a hard exoskeleton. There is no need to fear them, and they can be picked up, swept up, or scooped up with no problem. I have them categorised for Zazzle as "insects" but they are not - they are arthropods, distantly related to lobsters, etc.