Office Staff often go for post-lunch walks – to digest and to get away from those darn computers! We’ve noticed this summer many millipedes plowing through leaf-litter, under logs, even across pavement! Those fast-moving legs make them very distinctive and for some, a little intimidating!
There are more than 60 species in Canada (who knew there are so many!), but the funny thing about them is that they usually have less that 200 legs – the name is misleading. There are two legs for every body segment, but figuring out the final number can be challenging. The body typically is comprised of fused segments. The first and last segments don’t have legs; the second and third and usually the fourth segments have one pair of legs; the other segments have two! See what we mean by challenging.
In Canada that largest species is about eight centimetres, but most are one centimetre. Many like to burrow in soil or leaf-litter, and almost all of them feed on decayed or fresh vegetation. They are wonderful decomposers – helping to break down dead material into rich and fertile soil. Although they may seem creepy, the ones in Canada are harmless.
So, don’t be intimidated! If you see one crossing the road, give them a gentle leg up and move them out of danger!
