1. Diploda/ Diplopoda
By: Jonathan Smeal
Diploda or Diplopoda is the scientific name of the Millipedes
Millipedes are segmented insects that are born with only four segments but as they grow they
molt and loose their exoskeleton. The ;irst few segments have no legs and some after have only 1
set of legs. As the millipede grows and sheds its exoskeleton it digests it and uses it for energy.
Transport Millipedes can lay between 10 and 300 eggs at a
Millipede move time.
thanks to a series of
many short legs that Response to stimuli
propel the body Millipedes can protect themselves from danger by
forward. A millipede curling into a ball that and often secret toxic
has a very small chemicals. Millipedes have a pair of antennae to help
digestive track that with scenery but also have sight and feeling.
allows it to obtain and use the nutrition if gets from
its diet. Adaptation
Millipedes have the ability to grow extra segments to
Nutrition adapt to the changing environment. With the extra
Most millipedes are herbivorous, and feed on segments the millipede can move more easily and
decomposing plant material. A few species are swiftly.
omnivorous or carnivorous, and may prey on smaller
arthropods, such as insects and centipedes, or on Respiration
earthworms. Some species have piercing mouthparts Millipedes breathe through two pairs of
that allow them to feed on plant juices. spiracles (Spiracles are small openings on
the surface of some animals that usually
lead to respiratory systems.) on each
Reproduction
diplosegment (segment with 2 sets of
Male millipedes can be differentiated from female
legs). Each opens into an internal pouch,
millipedes by the presence of one or two pairs of and connects to a system of tracheae.
legs modified into gonopods. These modified legs
are usually on the seventh segment. A few species
are parthenogenetic, having few, if any, males.

2. Millipedes Cont. Regulation
Millipedes maintain homeostasis by regulating its ingestion of plant
matter and dead and decaying plant life.
Place in food chain
Millipedes are relatively low in the food chain due to the fact that they
only eat dead and decaying matter. The carnivorous millipedes are
slightly higher.
Background of group
All millipedes are segmented (to a degree) in the same way, some just have different numbers of segments. A
low segmented millipede is the European Pill Millipede as shown below. Millipedes also have similar body
segmentations as the centipedes, other than the fact that centipedes only have 1 set of legs per segment.
Similar organisms
There are over 140 different families of millipedes stretched all across
the globe to places even humans couldn’t survive. Some millipedes are
even found at the poles of the earth.
“Oddball”
The “Oddball” of the millipedes is the Pill Millipedes from Europe and
the Philippine's.
Symmetry
Millipedes all for the most part have bilateral symmetry meaning that they could be cut in half horizontally and
be mirror images.
Extinct or Endangered
Two examples of extinct millipedes are Cylindroiulus caeruleoinctus and
Iulus scanicus
Importance to humans
Millipedes are used in the composting process. Millipedes ingest the
excess dead and decaying plant material to fertilize the soil.
Interesting Facts
Millipedes due to their gentle nature and lack of the ability to bite or pinch and their simple diet have been
known to make great pets. Although Millipede in Latin means “thousand legs” they usually only have between
36 and 400 legs.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millipede
http://www.answers.com/topic/diplopoda-2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiracle
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091011023641AAZlAve
http://blog.ecosmart.com/wp-content/millipede_small.jpg