Damon Mcknight
Millipedes are small, long, and cylindrical, ranging from 20-45mm long, though some Australian native species can reach up to 20cm in length. Millipedes are myriapods, meaning they have many pairs of legs, with the highest recorded number of legs found on a millipede being 750. Millipedes are found all over Australia and are especially common in areas with a mild climate and plenty of moisture. While millipedes are generally beneficial to the garden, helping to improve the soil by feeding on organic matter, they are sometimes considered pests, particularly the introduced species, the Portuguese Millipede, which congregates in large numbers and can invade homes and gardens. So, what eats millipedes in Australia?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common predators | Spiders, beetles, scorpions |
| Other predators | Birds, nematodes, some fly species |
| Diet | Organic matter, faeces, decomposing vegetation, earthworms, snails, other insects |
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What You'll Learn
Spiders, beetles, scorpions, and birds eat millipedes
Millipedes are small, long, and cylindrical, with a heavily segmented body and two pairs of legs per body segment. They are mostly beneficial to gardens, helping to improve the soil by feeding on organic matter, although some turn to feeding on plants. Millipedes are also an important part of the decomposition of organic matter and plant litter in regions where earthworm populations are small.
Despite their benefits, millipedes can sometimes be a nuisance, especially when they congregate in large numbers and invade indoor spaces. In such cases, it is important to know what eats millipedes in Australia to help control their population.
Spiders are among the natural predators that feed on millipedes. While spiders may not significantly reduce millipede numbers, they do play a role in keeping their population in check. Some spiders have a specific appetite for millipedes, making them a natural form of pest control.
Beetles are another predator that includes millipedes in their diet. Like spiders, beetles are not known to cause a significant reduction in millipede populations, but their presence can help maintain a balance in the ecosystem.
Scorpions, which are related to spiders, also prey on millipedes. Scorpions are effective predators with venomous stings that can quickly dispatch their prey. They are found in similar habitats to millipedes, making them a common predator of these many-legged creatures.
Birds are another natural enemy of millipedes. Millipedes secrete a yellowish liquid composed of organic chemicals called quinones when agitated, which makes them distasteful to many predators. However, birds do not seem to be deterred by this defence mechanism and will still feed on millipedes. Exposing garden beds and leaving the soil bare can attract birds and skinks to feed on millipede eggs and juveniles, helping to control their population.
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Nematodes are parasitic to millipedes
Rhabditis necromena is a type of nematode that exclusively parasitizes millipedes. These nematodes are active during late autumn and winter and are only known to attack millipedes. It can take several years for their introduction to result in a noticeable reduction in millipede numbers, especially in areas with diverse habitats that can support large millipede populations.
In Japan, specifically in Aichi Prefecture, two nematode species, Rhigonema naylae and Travassosinema claudiae, have been found to parasitize the xystodesmid millipede Parafontaria laminata. Rhigonema naylae is a member of the superfamily Rhigonematoidea, which consists of parasites that exclusively target millipedes. On the other hand, Travassosinema claudiae belongs to the superfamily Thelastomatoidea, which includes a wide range of species that parasitize various invertebrates.
The prevalence and population densities of Rhigonematoidea spp. were found to be higher than those of Thelastomatoidea spp. in the studied millipede populations. Interestingly, the presence of Thelastomatoidea spp. did not negatively impact the population densities of Rhigonematoidea spp., indicating that these parasites do not compete with each other. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between the prevalence of parasitic nematodes and the body size of the host millipedes.
The evolutionary relationships between these parasitic nematodes and their millipede hosts are complex and not yet fully understood. However, the discovery of these parasitic relationships contributes to our understanding of host-parasite interactions and their role in evolutionary biology.
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Millipedes are important decomposers of organic matter
Millipedes are detritivores, or decomposers, that feed on organic matter, including leaf litter, decaying wood, fungi, and plant roots. They play an important role in breaking down and recycling organic material, contributing to the creation of nutrient-rich soil. This process is particularly notable in North American forests, where millipedes help form a thick humus layer that retains moisture during droughts, benefiting the surrounding vegetation.
In Australia, millipedes are considered pests, with the Portuguese millipede (Ommatoiulus moreleti) being the most common invasive species. Native millipedes are usually found in low numbers, but the Portuguese millipede congregates in large numbers and is highly mobile, especially after the first autumn rains. They are distinguished from native species by their smooth, cylindrical bodies, ranging from 20-45mm in length with 50 body segments.
The diet of millipedes consists primarily of leaf litter, damp decaying wood, fungi, and vegetable matter such as tender roots, mosses, and green leaves. This feeding habit leads to their accumulation in areas with undisturbed leaf litter and organic mulch. While millipedes are not particular to any specific location, they are often found in places with abundant organic matter, such as forests, gardens, and compost piles.
Millipedes play a crucial role in the decomposition process, similar to earthworms and other arthropods. They break down complex organic compounds into simpler forms, returning vital nutrients to the soil. This recycling process helps maintain the health and fertility of ecosystems, promoting the growth of plants and other organisms.
While millipedes have natural predators such as spiders, beetles, and scorpions, these do not significantly reduce their populations. Millipedes have evolved defensive mechanisms, including the secretion of pungent, yellowish chemicals composed of organic compounds like quinones, which make them distasteful to potential predators.
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Millipedes are mostly nocturnal
Millipedes are usually found outdoors, where they feed on leaf litter, damp and decaying wood, fungus, and vegetable matter like tender roots, mosses, or green leaves on the ground. They are also known to occasionally attack living plants by chewing on the leaves and stems. In canola, they remove irregular sections from the leaves, and can kill whole plants if the damage is severe. Damage to cereals can also occur when the stems of young plants are chewed. There is some evidence that millipedes feed on crop plants when they are seeking moisture.
Millipedes come out in large numbers during spring and fall, with mass migrations taking place during these seasons. They are attracted to dampness and can be found near gutters that are not angled away from foundations. They can move several hundred meters a year and are transported from one property to another in plant material and farm machinery.
In Australia, native millipedes are usually found in low numbers and are widespread. The Portuguese millipede, on the other hand, congregates in large numbers and is quite mobile, especially after the first rains in autumn. They are found in South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, and Victoria.
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Millipedes are not insects
While they are similar in appearance and name to centipedes, millipedes are very different. Centipedes are carnivores that feed on other creatures, especially insects and spiders, using poison to paralyze their prey. Millipedes, on the other hand, are docile creatures that feed on decomposing plant material, such as leaf litter, decaying wood, fungi, and plant roots. They play an important role in breaking down organic matter and are vital to the ecosystem.
Millipedes belong to the group Myriapoda, which means "many-legged". There are well over 1000 species of millipedes worldwide, and they can be found in a variety of habitats, including Australia. The native millipedes in Australia are usually found in low numbers and have a bumpy appearance, while the introduced Portuguese millipedes congregate in large numbers and have a smooth, cylindrical body.
One of the most distinctive features of millipedes is their defensive secretions. They have glands that secrete a pungent, yellowish liquid composed of organic chemicals called quinones, which make them distasteful to predators. These secretions can also cause minor skin discolouration in humans and can be irritating to the skin and eyes of larger predators. However, they are mostly harmless and are not known to bite or sting.
Millipedes are preyed upon by a wide range of animals, including reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, and insects. Some predators have specialised behaviours or structures to feed on millipedes, such as rolling them on the ground to remove their defensive secretions. Overall, millipedes play an important role in the ecosystem, and while they may be considered pests in some cases, they generally have little impact on human economic or social well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
Millipedes in Australia are eaten by spiders, beetles, scorpions, and birds. They are also parasitised by nematodes and a European fly species.
Millipedes are myriapods, meaning they have many pairs of legs. They are not insects, but arthropods. Millipedes are mostly blind herbivores and feed on organic matter, faeces, and decomposing vegetation.
Millipedes are small, long, and cylindrical, ranging from 0.2 mm to 35 cm in length. They have two pairs of legs per body segment and a short pair of antennae on the head.
Millipedes are commonly found in moist areas with plenty of dead organic material, mosses, lichens, and fungi for food and shelter. They are usually found under rocks and logs, in leaf litter, soil, and under tree bark.
