Ever turned over a rock and spotted a millipede? The world has more than 10,000 species of this bug.
Wait . . .
Not bug. Not if by “bug” you mean “insect.”
Millipedes aren’t insects at all. They’re arthropods. Insects are arthropods too. But—believe it or not—millipedes are more like lobsters than flies.
You might be an arthropod if . . .
- you have an exoskeleton made of a material called chitin.
- your body has segments. (This means it’s divided into parts. Arthropods have paired legs attached to each segment.)
- you are a crustacean, arachnid, insect, millipede, or centipede.
Excuse Me, Ma’am. How Many Legs Do You Have?
How did experts decide Millie was a millipede and not a centipede?
Check the chart!
Millipedes |
Centipedes |
two sets of legs per segment |
one set of legs per segment |
legs right under body |
legs on the side of the body |
eat decomposing plants |
eat mostly insects |
when threatened, coil up and release a stinky smell |
when threatened, bite and run away |
more round body |
more flat body |
Make Your Own Arthropod
God designed more arthropods than we have yet discovered. People know about one million types of arthropods so far. But that’s just a fraction of the number that exist!
Take a cue from your Creator. Invent your own arthropod.
Grab a die, some paper, and something to draw with. You’ll roll the die 20 times. First, draw a circle for your arthropod’s head. Then for each roll, draw a new part on your arthropod.
1 = Add an antenna.
2 = Add a segment with a set of legs with pincers.
3 = Add a stinger.
4 = Add an eye.
5 = Add a tooth.
6 = Add a wing.
Got your new arthropod? Give it a name. Snap a photo and send it to us at worldkidseditor@gwnews.com.
