Millipedes are often observed in gardens and natural environments, playing an important role as decomposers in the ecosystem. These fascinating invertebrates, known for their many legs, begin their lives in a form quite different from their adult appearance. Understanding what baby millipedes look like and how they develop offers insight into their unique biology.
What Newly Hatched Millipedes Look Like
Newly hatched millipedes are small and delicate, emerging from their eggs with few body segments and limited legs. Many species hatch with as few as three segments and just three pairs of legs, often appearing translucent or pale white. The first segment, called the collum, is legless, while the next three segments each bear a single pair of legs. These soft-bodied young millipedes are vulnerable and spend their initial stages hidden in moist soil or decaying organic matter.
How Baby Millipedes Change as They Grow
Millipedes undergo a process of growth and development known as anamorphosis, where they gradually add more segments and legs over time. This growth occurs through a series of molts, during which the millipede sheds its rigid outer exoskeleton. With each successive molt, new body segments and additional pairs of legs are added, at the rear of the body.
Young millipedes can undergo seven to ten molts before reaching their full adult size and segment count. After shedding their old exoskeleton, the millipede’s new body is soft and pale, gradually hardening and darkening in color over several hours or days. They often consume their shed skin to reclaim valuable nutrients. This journey from hatchling to adult can take anywhere from two to five years, depending on the species.
Distinguishing Baby Millipedes from Other Critters
Identifying baby millipedes can be challenging due to their small size, but key features distinguish them from other small invertebrates. A defining characteristic of millipedes is having two pairs of legs on most body segments, unlike centipedes which possess only one pair of legs per segment. Millipedes have a rounded, cylindrical body shape and move at a slower, more deliberate pace, often with a wave-like motion of their many legs. Their antennae are short and point downwards.
In contrast, centipedes have a flattened body and move much more swiftly, with legs that protrude noticeably from the sides of their body. Centipedes also have longer, more flexible antennae that point forward. Unlike millipedes, which are primarily decomposers feeding on decaying plant material, centipedes are predators. Small worms, another common critter in similar habitats, can be differentiated from baby millipedes by their complete lack of legs and soft, unsegmented bodies.