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All photographs copyright © (2003-2010) by Kris Light
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Millipede
Sigmoria spp. / Class Diplopoda
This kind of Millipede smells like cherries when it gets disturbed, the smell comes from cyanide which it uses as a defense mechanism. The yellow and black markings are warning colors to any predator that might want to eat it. The worst they can do to a person who picks them up is to poop on them (but at least it smells like cherries)! Unlike carnivorous centipedes which eat insects and can sting with modified mouthparts, millipedes are herbivores and eat dead leaves. Millipedes do not sting. Although they are arthropods, they have many more than 6 legs, so they are not insects.
more millipede info
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