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How to Identify Millipedes Vs. Centipedes

Related to shrimp and crayfish, the centipede and millipede are arthropods easily mistaken for one another. They both have tiny, numerous legs, elongated bodies with exoskeletons and visible segmentations, and they are long-lived and molt, losing parts of their exoskeletons as they grow. Centipede means "hundred legs" while millipede means "thousand legs." If you examine centipedes and millipedes with a magnifying glass, you can spot features distinctive to each which help you identify their species.

Things You'll Need

Magnifying glass

Instructions

- 1
  Look at the shape of the body. The exoskeleton of a centipede tends to be slightly flattened, while most species of millipede have a rounded exoskeleton.
- 2
  Examine the head of the arthropod. Centipedes have long, segmented antennae, while millipedes have much shorter and thicker antennae if they are present at all.
- 3
  Center on a body segment. Centipedes have a single set of legs per segment, while millipedes can have two or more pairs of legs per segment.
- 4
  Look at the first segment on the arthropod's body. Centipedes have specialized -- usually longer or a different color -- legs along their first segment that produce venom to help kill prey. These modified legs are absent on millipedes, who spit venom on prey using specialized glands.

Insects & Science