By Obiabin Onukwugha
Millipedes (from Latin millepeda, meaning “wood louse”, are a group of arthropods that are characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments.
Most millipedes have very elongated cylindrical or flattened bodies with more than 20 segments. Although the name is derived from Latin for “thousand feet”, no species was known to have 1,000 or more until the discovery in 2020 of Eumillipes persephone, which can have over 1,300 legs.
There are approximately 12,000 named species classified into 16 orders and around 140 families, making Diplopoda the largest class of myriapods, an arthropod group which also includes centipedes and other multi-legged creatures.
Most millipedes are slow-moving detritivores, eating decaying leaves and other dead plant matter. Some eat fungi or drink plant fluids, and a small number are predatory. Millipedes are generally harmless to humans, although some can become household or garden pests.
Millipedes can also be an unwanted nuisance particularly in greenhouses where they can potentially cause severe damage to emergent seedlings.
Most millipedes defend themselves with a variety of chemicals secreted from pores along the body, although the tiny bristle millipedes are covered with tufts of detachable bristles. Its primary defence mechanism is to curl into a tight coil, thereby protecting its legs and other vital delicate areas on the body behind a hard exoskeleton.
Millipedes undergo a process called anamorphic development. Each time a millipede molts, it adds more body segments and legs. A hatchling begins life with just 6 body segments and 3 pairs of legs, but by maturity may have dozens of segments and hundreds of legs.
Reproduction in most species is carried out by modified male legs called gonopods, which transfer packets of sperm to females.
Unfortunately for the male, a female millipede will often take his attempts to mate with her as a threat. She’ll curl up tightly, preventing him from delivering any sperm. The male millipede might walk on her back, convincing her to relax with the gentle massage provided by hundreds of his feet. In some species, the male can stridulate, producing a sound that calms his mate. Other male millipedes use sex pheromones to arouse a partner’s interest in him.
After fertilization, Mother millipedes burrow into the soil and dig nests where they lay their eggs. In many cases, the mother millipede uses her own feces—her castings are just recycled plant matter after all—to construct a protective capsule for her offspring. In some instances, the millipede may push the soil with her hind end to mold the nest. She’ll deposit 100 eggs or more (depending on her species) in the nest, and the hatchlings will emerge in roughly a month.
Millipedes are essential for soil health. By releasing processed organic matter at the hind end, they act as decomposers and help return nutrients back into soil.
Unlike other arthropods with relatively short lives, millipedes can live between 7 and 10 years. Most male millipede species do not have legs on the 7th segment to give space for the gonopods or sex organs.
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Igbos call it “Edu”, Yoruba call it “Ọ̀kùn”, while Hausas call it “kadandoni.”
Why Chickens Don’t Eat Millepedes
According to a story told by Winny Asara, Chicken and Millipede were once friends but they were always competing with each other so one day they decided to play football to see who the best player was.
They went to the football field and started their game. Chicken was fast, but Millipede was faster. Chicken kicked far, but Millipede kicked further and at s point Vhicken started to feel grumpy.
Afterward, they decided to play a penalty shoot-out. First Millipede was goal keeper. Chicken scored only one goal. Then it was the chicken’s turn to defend the goal.
Millipede kicked the ball and scored. Millipede dribbled the ball and scored. Millipede headed the ball and scored. At the end Millipede scored five goals.
Chicken was furious that she lost. She was a very bad loser so Millipede started laughing because his friend was making such a fuss.
But Chicken was so angry that she opened her beak wide and swallowed the millipede.
As Chicken was walking home, she met Mother Millipede. Mother Millipede asked, “Have you seen my child?” Chicken didn’t say anything. Mother Millipede was worried.
Then Mother Millipede heard a tiny voice. “Help me mom!” cried the voice. Mother Millipede looked around and listened carefully. The voice came from inside the chicken.
Mother Millipede shouted, “Use your special power my child!” Millipedes can make a bad smell and a terrible taste. Afterward, Chicken began to feel ill.
Chicken burped. Then she swallowed and spat. Then she sneezed and coughed and coughed. The millipede was disgusting!
Chicken coughed until she coughed out the millipede that was in her stomach. Mother Millipede and her child crawled up a tree to hide. From that time, chickens and millipedes became enemies.
