7 Millipede Predators: What Eats Millipedes?

Millipedes are the oldest creatures to have crawled the earth. But mother nature has a cycle, and for every creature, there must be a predator. So, what eats millipedes? Let’s find out.

The slow-crawling critters you find in and around your house that can scare you just by being there are common millipedes.

With more than a hundred pairs of legs and a rather timid personality, these insects are very easy to spot and, for their natural predators, very easy to hunt.

However, these creepy crawlies have their own defenses, and that’s why the hunt is not as simple as one might think.

In this article, we will talk about what kills millipedes. Let’s see how some predators have evolved specifically to avoid the defense mechanisms of these creatures.

What Animals Eat Them?

If you consider the food chain of the animal kingdom, millipedes are unfortunately at the very bottom.

Some of the predators of millipedes include small animals such as birds, frogs, hedgehogs, and different kinds of rodents. Since these creatures live almost everywhere, their predators vary by location.

Hedgehogs

Spiny and adorable as they are to look at, hedgehogs are major carnivores in their natural habitat. These mammals eat a lot of insects, and millipedes are one of their favorites. As pets, hedgehogs like to be fed caterpillars; in the wild, they scout for worms instead.

Reptiles

Reptiles like lizards, geckos, and monitors are common predators that feed on millipedes.

Though most millipedes are too small to become a full meal for reptiles, they easily make up a good snack. Reptiles love crawling on walls and rocks to hunt for these bugs.

Ants

When compared in size, ants are a lot smaller than most millipede species. But these animals are vicious when they hunt in groups.

An army of Marvelous Ants is capable of attacking larger animals like millipedes and devouring them. Ants surround a millipede and tear their prey apart with their specially designed pitchfork-like mandibles.

Scorpions

Scorpions are one of the most vicious predators of many creatures. These venomous insects can sting and hunt insects much larger than them. They use their pincers to catch millipedes and slowly feed on them, sometimes stinging them to kill the prey.

Birds

One of the most common predators of millipedes is birds. Birds hunt a lot of insects, carrying them off the ground or from leaves up in trees.

Birds prefer arthropods like millipedes and caterpillars to feed their young ones. Millipede bodies are soft, and the chicks can tear them apart.

As mammals, animals like monkeys and lemurs do not feed on millipedes. However, we can call them predators of insects for another reason. They use millipedes as insect repellants.

Monkeys and millipedes

Millipedes have a chemical defense that helps them ward off predators, which includes lethal ones like cyanide.

However, some creatures use these very chemicals in a unique way. Monkeys catch millipedes off the ground, biting them in half and rubbing them all over themselves.

The chemicals from the millipedes help to keep away mosquitoes in the wild. Capuchin monkeys are one of the main ones who do this.

Lemurs and millipedes

Lemurs are native to Madagascar, where you can spot specific species of millipedes in the rainforests.

Similar to monkeys, lemurs rub millipede juices on their bodies to keep away pests. Some of them also ingest them as a form of intoxication and to treat indigestion.

Promecognathus Beetles Eat Millipedes Despite Cyanide

Promecognathus is the name of a genus of beetles. But while many beetles are known to hunt prey, there is one very special feature about the Promecognathus.

These beetles can walk through a cloud of poisonous cyanide without a scratch.

We talked about millipedes’ chemical defense against predators, which involves emitting cyanide gas.

If a normal beetle comes to attack them, the millipedes will release this concoction to protect themselves.

The Promecognathus beetles have a high tolerance toward cyanide, making it easy for them to hunt millipedes.

Once these beetles dodge the attack, they grab the worm in their extremely powerful jaws and start ripping them apart.

The millipede will twist and roll in the beetle’s jaws, slowly succumbing to the injuries.

Biological Control By Nematodes

If millipedes become a nuisance in your garden, certain manual and biological controls are the best way to go.

These worms reproduce faster when they get the right moisture and detritus for food in their surroundings.

So reducing decaying organic matter available for the consumption of millipedes can help with the problem.

There are also certain parasites that feed on millipedes. Nematodes are one of the common types of parasitic worms that can get rid of millipedes.

Studies in South Australia have shown that nematodes in the soil can help with a significant reduction in the millipede population.

However, one problem with nematodes is that they take quite some time to reduce pests in the soil. It might be a few years before you see a reduction in the number of worms in the soil.

Can Humans Eat Them?

You might squirm with disgust at this question, but this world is a vast place full of fascinating cultures and tastes.

And one such group is the Bobo people from Burkina Faso. These people consume specific species of millipedes.

Studies have shown that millipedes have certain nutritional value; they contain a fair bit of protein, iron, and calcium in them. Therefore, millipedes are not a bad food source in places lacking nutrition.

The main problem with them is the chemicals that they secrete from the waxy cuticles on their body (including cyanide)

While it is not proven that the worms can be safe as food, the Bobo people from Burkina Faso do consume them as part of their diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

We have all seen the multi-legged creature crawling through our house once in a while. But did you know that millipedes have only three pairs of legs when they hatch?

That does not sound so bad for a little worm. These creatures are not a threat to you, and co-existing with them should not be a big problem. Moreover, mother nature has created several predators who naturally take care of these bugs for you.