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| 18/2/19 |
18 February 2019
Found in compost heaps and under stones in gardens, the Flat-backed Millipede is a common minibeast. Despite its name, it only has about 40 legs. It is an important recycler of nutrients, feeding on decaying matter.
There are a number of millipede species in the UK; one familiar group includes the Flat-backed Millipede, which can be found under rocks and in compost heaps in the garden, as well as in rotting trees in woodland. Millipedes are very long, many-segmented invertebrates that live in the soil, under rocks, or under the bark of trees. They are vegetarians, eating mildew and decaying vegetation, and perform a useful nutrient-recycling function in various habitats. They are very slow-moving creatures, but can excrete almond-smelling fluids (cyanide) from their sides if threatened.
The Flat-backed Millipede is orangey-brown with a long, flattened body that resembles a centipede. However, centipedes have only one pair of legs per segment of their body, whereas millipedes have two. There are many millipede species in the UK, which can be difficult to tell apart. (LINK)
There are a number of millipede species in the UK; one familiar group includes the Flat-backed Millipede, which can be found under rocks and in compost heaps in the garden, as well as in rotting trees in woodland. Millipedes are very long, many-segmented invertebrates that live in the soil, under rocks, or under the bark of trees. They are vegetarians, eating mildew and decaying vegetation, and perform a useful nutrient-recycling function in various habitats. They are very slow-moving creatures, but can excrete almond-smelling fluids (cyanide) from their sides if threatened.
The Flat-backed Millipede is orangey-brown with a long, flattened body that resembles a centipede. However, centipedes have only one pair of legs per segment of their body, whereas millipedes have two. There are many millipede species in the UK, which can be difficult to tell apart. (LINK)
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