We’ve been seeing these beautiful critters in the pine straw lately – they tend to come out when it’s damp. They are hard to get a clear picture of, but this one cooperated nicely by pausing for about 15 seconds. The legs are amazing – hover over or enlarge the picture for a closer view.
Millipedes are eaten by centipedes, spiders, and insects, even though they may excrete cyanide or similar poison as a defense mechanism. Babies are miniatures and add legs as they molt in stages to adulthood, with the kind in our neighborhood being around an inch long. They are important to the ecosystem because they help decompose and recycle our planet’s waste.
Places we looked for info: