Centipedes and Millipedes Trivia Quiz

Answer: The presence of jointed legs

Both centipedes and millipedes are members of the phylum Arthropoda, which means "jointed legs." Millipedes have more legs per segment than centipedes. Millipedes have a hard, waxy, chitinous exoskeleton, while centipedes lack any hard or waxy covering. Millipedes are primarily scavengers, while most centipedes are carnivorous.

Answer: hundred feet

Throughout history, man has been impressed by the legginess of these animals!

Answer: True

One small genus found in California is bioluminescent. It is also blind. No one knows why the luminescence evolved.

Answer: True

The African giant black millipede is the most commonly kept. Some keepers have received mild chemical burns from their "pets."

Answer: False

They are arthropods. There are several major groups of arthropods. Both centipedes and millipedes are in the subphylum Myriapoda. Millipedes are class Diplopoda, centipedes are class Chilopoda. Other groups of arthropods include subphylum Insecta- the insects; subphylum Crustacea- lobsters, shrimp, crabs and the like; and subphylum Arachnida- spiders, scorpions, ticks and the like.

Answer: Insects and other small animals

Many centipedes are adapted to be swift hunters.

Answer: Plants and decaying matter

Most millipedes are found in damp places eating damp things.

Answer: True

Hydroschendyla submarina, a member of a family that usually lives underground, lives in oceans off the coast of Europe.

Answer: True

Damp conditions can cause accelerated breeding rates, leading to harmless but messy "millipede invasions."

Answer: 20 inches per second

That's a little over one mile per hour, but it looks much faster when the centipede is scuttling across your basement floor!

Answer: Biting

The first pair of a centipede's legs, below the mouth, are modified into claws called "forcipules" that can inject venom into both prey and enemies. The Chinese thought this poison could cure rheumatism, kidney stones, skin disease and scarring. The hind legs of some centipedes also have pinchers, but these are not venomous.

Answer: Venomous bite

Some millipedes can spray a toxic brew containing hydrocyanic acid. Many millipedes secrete a poisonous liquid from glands called "repugnatorial glands" through pores on their bodies. This liquid contains benzoquinones and can actually cause chemical burns that can take up to 14 months to disappear. One species of millipede, Polyxenus fasciculatus, is covered with porcupine-like quills that can actually penetrate and kill attacking invertebrates.

Answer: False

It isn't really a bite, as the venom is injected from modified claws. Most often, the venom causes effects similar to that of a bee sting- swelling, itchiness, hives and pain. There is a reported fatality caused by the large tropical centipede Scolopendra subspinipes. The victim was a 7 year old Filipino girl who was bitten on the head.

Answer: True

A visitor to Central Africa reported that this was the most disgusting cuisine of his trip!

Answer: About 1000

Most centipedes and millipedes are found in the tropics, as they thrive in moist, warm locations. There are about 13,000 species worldwide.

Answer: False

Most lay from 20-300 eggs. Some species lay them singly, other lay them in groups.

Answer: True

Some species make nests and tend the eggs and then the newly-hatched young for up to 50 days. They guard but do not feed them.

Answer: Around 6 years

Some species actually take several years to mature!

Answer: House centipede

Scutigera coleoptera, the house centipede, is the only species of centipede that actually reproduces in dwellings. It takes 3 years to mature. The scutigerid centipedes have compound eyes (most centipedes are either eyeless or have one or a few eye facets) and are active in daylight as swift hunters.

Answer: False

They are not known to carry any diseases. Centipedes are beneficial, as they eat so many insects. Millipedes can damage gardens.