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Centipede and Millipede both belong to the phylum Arthropoda. These can be distinctively identified based on their movement and the number of legs they possess. A centipede is an elongated metameric creature with one pair of legs per body segment whereas Millipede is a group of arthropods that has two pairs of jointed legs on body segments. In this article, we will learn about the key differences and similarities between a centipede and a millipede.
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What is a Centipede?
Centipedes commonly called ‘hundred leggers’ are members of Class Chilopoda. A centipede is an elongated metameric creature with one pair of legs per body segment. The scientific name of Centipede is Scolopendra.
Centipedes respire through their trachea. Their excretion takes place through Malpighian tubules. Organisms of class Chilopoda have one pair of antennas, one pair of mandibles, and two pairs of maxillas. Centipedes have the tendency to bite other creatures or human beings. Therefore, They are poisonous to human beings and other creatures.
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Some of the examples of Centipede are as follows.
- Alipes grandidieri – feather tail centipede
- Lithobius forficatus – stone centipede
- Ethmostigmus trigonous – blue ring centipede
Classification of Centipede
- Scientific name – Scolopendra
- Kingdom – Animalia
- Phylum – Arthropoda
- Subphylum – Mandibulata
- Class – Chilopoda
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What is a Millipede?
Millipedes commonly called ‘thousand leggers’ are members of Class Diplopoda. A Millipede is a group of arthropods that has two pairs of jointed legs on body segments. The scientific name of Millipede is Julus.
There are around 8000 species of organisms in class Diplopoda but the surprising fact is that only 3000 species are known to us. Centipedes have a cylindrical body. The respiration takes place through the trachea. They have one pair of antennas, one pair of mandate tables, and one pair of maxillas present on their body.
Millipede’s don’t have the tendency to bite other creatures or human beings. Therefore, They are not poisonous to human beings and other creatures.
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Classification of Millipede
- Scientific name – Julus
- Kingdom – Animalia
- Phylum – Arthropoda
- Subphylum – Mandibulata
- Class – Diplopoda
Difference between Centipede and Millipede
| Centipede | Millipede |
|---|---|
| They are also known as hundred leggers. | Millipedes are also known as thousand leggers. |
| Centipedes are generally flat in shape. | Millipedes are generally cylindrical in shape. |
| The length of the centipede varies from 4 to 12 inches. | The average length of a millipede varies from 1 to 8 inches. |
| Most of the Centipedes are generally yellowish-grey or brown in colour. | Most of the millipedes are generally black or dark reddish-brown in colour. |
| Centipedes are fast-moving species. | Millipedes are slow-moving species. |
| On average, a female centipede lays 40 to 50 eggs. | On average, a female millipede species lays up to 300 eggs. |
| Centipede’s antenna is generally longer in size. | Millipede’s antenna is generally shorter in size. |
| Centipede is generally carnivorous in nature and eats small insects. | Millipedes are scavengers in nature, they feed on dead and decaying matter. |
| The body of a centipede is divided into 15 to 100 segments. | The body of a millipede is divided into 11 to 150 segments. |
| They are generally found in moist habitats like soil, leaf litter, wooden logs, rainforests etc. | Millipedes are generally found in humid places. Also, they are found in gardens and flower beds. |
Things to Remember
- Centipede and Millipede both belong to the phylum Arthropoda.
- A centipede is an elongated metameric creature with one pair of legs per body segment.
- A millipede is a group of arthropods that has two pairs of jointed legs on body segments.
- The scientific name of Centipede is Scolopendra.
- The scientific name of Millipede is Julus.
- Millipede’s don’t have the tendency to bite other creatures or human beings. Therefore, They are not poisonous to human beings and other creatures.
- Centipedes have the tendency to bite other creatures or human beings. Therefore, They are poisonous to human beings and other creatures.
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Sample Questions
Ques: How do Centipedes breathe? [2 marks]
Ans: Centipedes do not have lungs like human beings. They breathe by taking air in through several holes present on their bodies. Inside the body of a centipede, there are tiny tubes that deliver the air to all the organs of its body.
Ques: Do centipedes have skin? [2 marks]
Ans: Centipedes do not have skin like human beings. Unlike humans, their skeleton part is present on the outside of their bodies and that skeleton part forms the skin. The structure of the bodies of centipedes and insects are the opposite of human beings. The human’s skeleton is inside of the body.
Ques: How do centipedes reproduce? [2 marks]
Ans: Centipedes reproduce by laying eggs generally in the soil. There are different kinds of centipedes. In some species, The mother just leaves the eggs when they are laid and in some other species, the mother stays and protects the eggs.
Ques: How do centipedes and millipedes defend themselves? [3 marks]
Ans: Centipedes have claws at the top of their heads which they used to bite other organisms or human beings. The claws have venom which the centipede imparts onto the prey to kill it. On the other hand, millipedes do not have the biting capability. Their defence mechanism is to either curl up into a tight ball or emit a sticky substance to guide them from their predator.
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Ques: Where do millipedes live? [2 marks]
Ans: Millipedes generally live in cool, wet and low light places. They usually live in places where some type of decomposing organic matter like vegetable wastes exists. They also appear indoors or in homes on hot and rainy days, when humidity is high and mainly due to excess water in the gardens.
Ques: Are millipedes important for the Ecosystem? [2 marks]
Ans: Millipedes feed on dead and decaying organic matter, hence they are important for the environment. Millipedes are the natural producers of organic fertilizers. They are involved in the process of transforming dead and decaying matter into nutrients and by moving through the compounds, they promote oxygenation.
Ques: Are millipedes bad for plants? [2 marks]
Ans: Millipedes can be bad for plants because they love to eat them, also they act as a parasite. It is difficult to find them in a yard or indoors, they cause no harm to human beings. But, they can be bad for indoor or outdoor plants.
Ques: What is common between a centipede and millipede? [3 marks]
Ans:
- They both have segmented bodies and they have many legs to move around.
- They have holes in their body which act as a respiratory organ. Also, the holes are known as spiracles.
- Most species of both insects have the same colour and that’s why it will be difficult to differentiate both of them.
- Both lay eggs in the soil and have the tendency to reproduce sexually. This means that both need a mate or a partner in order to fertilize and lay eggs.
- Both Millipedes and centipedes are elongated creatures.
- Both millipedes and centipedes produce substances that cause burns and allergic reactions to other organisms or human beings.
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Ques: How to prevent millipedes from entering your home? [2 marks]
Ans: You have to keep your home clean and free from organic matter like fruits and vegetable scraps. Keep your house well ventilated and well lit as millipedes love dark and wet places.
Ques: How to deal with millipedes in the garden? [3 marks]
Ans: Keeping the garden clean can prevent millipedes. The Garden should be watered on a daily basis. Removing all the scattered leaves from the ground and remains of vegetables, as these animals feed on decomposing matter. Keep a check that all the gutters should be clean. If these measures didn’t work, then you can call a professional to perform on-site pest control.
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