Millipedes need damp environments to survive, but what do they do with the moisture? How does a millipede get water from its surroundings? Let’s find out.
The word millipede means “thousand-legger,” and a millipede is known for its hundreds of tiny pairs of legs and segmented body.
Millipedes aren’t likely to be your favorite creatures if you are not a fan of creepy crawlies.
But learning about them helps remove such fears and helps us understand that they are unique and harmless little things that were the first creatures to roam the earth.
For example, how much do we know about their feeding habits? In this article, we will be talking about millipedes, their water requirements, and the unique ways in which they get water.
Why Do Millipedes Need Moisture?
The millipede species are natural scavengers, feeding on leaf litter, dead leaves, plants, and mostly rotting organic matter.
They are known as detritivores because of their penchant for eating decaying things. These insects usually seek out damp, dark places because of their high requirement for moisture.
Like all living creatures, millipedes need water to survive. However, they also lack a waxy outer layer to protect them like other bugs, so without moisture, they die quickly.
Tropical species of millipedes can be found mostly around damp places indoors and outdoors.
Millipedes are sensitive bugs that change their habitat and behavior with the seasons, always looking for moist places.
During the dry months of summer and spring, they find their way to buildings and sidewalks, where they can get some extra moisture. They reside in the creaks and corners of the buildings, where it is damp.
How Do They Get Water in the Wild?
Millipedes are terrestrial animals, and the maximum millipede activity can be found in the first few layers of the soil.
These are areas where they find moisture and the required nutrients. Besides this, there are several sources from where millipedes find water:
Absorb Moisture From The Surroundings
Millipedes have segmented exoskeletons, expansion joints, and hundreds of pairs of legs that help them crawl in the soil.
The most important adapting feature of the millipedes is their exoskeleton which helps them retain water through their skin.
Water from Food
Most millipedes feed on organic matter like fresh and rotting fruits and vegetables. These items have moisture content which adds up to their requirement of water.
Bristle Millipedes Can Absorb Moisture From the Air!
One of the most interesting cases is that of the Bristle millipedes species. It is found in the dry areas of North America and Europe.
These millipedes are capable of absorbing water vapor directly from the air. The tiny bristles on their exoskeleton help to retain the water in dry areas.
How To Give Them Water in Captivity?
When you are keeping creepy crawlies like millipedes in captivity, there are a few things you have to remember about their care.
Keeping them in tanks requires you to maintain the substrate, moisture, and temperatures so they can thrive well. Here are a few things you should do to maintain your pet millipede’s home:
Millipedes can drink from a standing container of water.
Keeping a small shallow bowl of chlorine-free water in the tank will allow them to make their way towards and drink from it when needed.
Make sure to add a small stone or pebble for them to climb into and out of the bowl.
Misting the tank with water spray is a good idea to maintain the humidity levels and temperature of the tank.
Using a cricket quencher in the tank can be another good way to provide them with water. This also helps to prevent any kind of bacterial growth in the water source.
Besides these ideas, maintaining the substrate of the tank is one of the best things you can do to keep the millipede hydrated and healthy.
How Do Millipedes Conserve Water in Deserts?
While most millipedes are found in arid lands and damp soils, there are two specific species of millipedes in North America found in a desert areas.
At the Petroglyph National Monument, the Desert millipede and Slate millipede have special ways of surviving in high temperatures instead of moist environments.
Don’t let the water evaporate
Millipedes burrow deep under the ground to escape extreme temperatures in the deserts. Water loss occurs through evaporation and movement.
Burrowing deep in the sand and staying there helps them retain the amount of water they are carrying in their body.
Dig deeper to find more of it
Millipedes always look for more water that will help them survive. In deserts, they keep burrowing deep inside the ground to levels where water can be found.
These areas are damper than the surface, and the worms can comfortably survive here without losing water.
Physical adaptation to conserve water
A lot of insects and animals in the deserts have water-retaining capacity. Millipedes of the desert have a different exoskeleton from the common species.
It is a physical adaptation where the wax coating of their exoskeletons holds moisture and reduces water loss when they are crawling around the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kills millipedes instantly?
If you are trying to remove millipedes from your home, the easiest thing is to vacuum them from walls and corners.
You can try to use bug sprays and insecticides that work effectively to get rid of millipedes. Some natural chemicals like boric acid can also be used to spot-treat millipedes.
Do pet millipedes need water?
Millipedes in any environment need a high moisture content to thrive. If you keep millipedes as pets, you must maintain an adequate temperature and moisture in the tank.
Make sure to maintain a substrate and mist the terrarium to keep the right moisture levels.
What do millipedes need to survive?
Millipedes are creatures of dark and damp areas. They are usually found outdoors in gardens, plants, and soil.
They prefer to live under dead leaves, litter, compost, and flowerbeds. They need a damp zone with high moisture and organic matter as nutrition to survive.
Can I keep a millipede as a pet?
A lot of people find millipedes to be beautiful and fascinating creatures. So yes, keeping these worms as your pet at home is possible.
Most people prefer to keep giant millipedes because, in spite of their size and appearance, these are gentle creatures who are very low-maintenance.
Can millipedes swim?
Yes, but only for a very short period. Millipedes have spiracles underneath their legs, like many other insects, which they use to breathe in oxygen.
If they remain inside water for a long time, they will not be able to breathe in and will drown.
Wrap Up
You think it might be a stretch, but millipedes of all kinds can be called “gentle giants” of the insect world.
These creatures live for 7-10 years, crawling around in your garden or staying healthy in a tank in your living room. They are excellent at keeping dead plants and leaves off your yard.
All they need is a cool body of water, darkness, and some food to keep them going. The choice is up to you. Thank you for reading!
4 Comments. Leave new
This is weird because these millipedes have also been invading our home in Pensacola, and I was googling them to find their species and came across this post. Then I saw the location as Pensacola. These things are everywhere and they’ve only appeared within the past two months where I live. Every night, especially after a rain, there have been literally hundreds, sometimes thousands on our porch alone. I’m not even exaggerating. I found 8 in the house last night. I have no idea how they’re getting inside. I’ve probably found a total of 50-70 in my house (dead and alive) since the “invasion” began a few months back. Before that, it was a very rare occasion to see them. Maybe once every few years. I was walking around my back yard a few days ago and they were on all of the trees in giant clusters of several hundred, and many were crawling around on the bark of every single tree in the back yard. I also found a cluster of them near the shed outside. I’ve never seen any kind of insect invasion in my life that’s like this one
Thank you for the account of your experiences.
I have seen just one – and another person found one in the pool that she thought was a mosquito because it bit her, but when she looked down it was just an extremely small worm, pinkish in color.
Hi I encountered a Millipede in my pool as I assumed it was dead as it was floating on its back
I need to know after the creepy crawly devoured it .
Is it safe to swim .
Thank you kind regards
Sonia Pittard
LOCATION : South Africa