Centipedes and millipedes

Centipedes are found throughout Australia and the rest of the world. They are very common in urban gardens. Bites may be painful, especially those inflicted by the larger northern species. The venom is usually associated with only local effects, but systemic illness and even death have been reported. However no fatalities have been recorded in Australia. No specific first aid treatment is recommended beyond the application of ice water or packs for local symptom relief.

Millipedes may exude alkaloid-containing haemolymph from their joints when threatened. This may be irritant to the skin and cause skin lesions, often in characteristic circular shapes.

Centipedes are from the insect class Chilopoda, which contains four orders: Geophilomorpha, Lithobiomorpha, Scolopendrida, Scutigerida. Centipedes have highly segmented bodies (15 -173 segments) with one pair of legs per segment.

Millipedes belong to the insect class Diplopoda, which was previously called Chilognatha. Diplopoda contains three subclasses: Helminthomorpha, Penicillata, Pentazonia. Millipedes have two pairs of legs on each of their many body segments.

Related Treatments

• Centipedes and millipedes, Treatment for stings

Related Venomous creatures

• Arthropods, Australian

Books

• Backhouse, J., A Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies, vol. 63, Hamilton, Adams & Co., London, 1843. [ Details... ]
• Cloudlsey-Thompson, J. L., Spiders, Scorpions, Centipedes and Mites. The Ecology and Natural History of Woodlice, ` Myriapods' and Arachnids, Pergamon Press, London, 1958. [ Details... ]

Book Sections

• Kaiser, E. and Michl, H., 'Die Biochemie der Tierischen Gifte. Einzeldarstellungen aus dem Gesamtgebiet der Biochemie', in 0. Hoffman (ed.), Neue Folge, vol. II, Franz Deutsche, Wein, 1958. [ Details... ]

Journal Articles

• Baerg, W. J., 'The Effect of Venom of Some Supposedly Poisonous Arthropods', Annals of the Entomological Society of America, vol. 17, 1924, pp. 343-352. [ Details... ]
• Burtt, E., 'Exudate from Millipedes with Particular Reference to Its Injurious Effects', Tropical Diseases Bulletin, vol. 44, 1947, p. 7. [ Details... ]
• Cloudlsey-Thompson, J. L., 'Hydroschendyla Submarina (Grube) in Yorkshire: With an Historical Review of the Marine Myriapoda', Naturalist (London), vol. 827, 1948, pp. 149-152. [ Details... ]
• Cloudlsey-Thompson, J. L., 'Supplementary Notes on Myriapoda', Naturalist (London), vol. 836, 1951, pp. 16-17. [ Details... ]
• Ewing, H. E., 'Observations on the Habits and the Injury Caused by the Bites or Stings of Some Common North American Arthropods', American Journal of Tropical Medicine, vol. 8, 1928, pp. 39-62. [ Details... ]
• Haneveld, G. T., 'Eye Lesions Caused by the Exudate of Tropical Millipedes. I. Report on a case', Tropical and Geographical Medicine, vol. 10, 1958, pp. 165-167. [ Details... ]
• Hoeke, J. O. O. and Kok, J., 'Eye Lesions Caused by the Exudate of Tropical Millipedes. II. Composition of the Exudate', Tropical and Geographical Medicine, vol. 10, 1958, pp. 168-170. [ Details... ]
• Jacobson, M., 'Chemical Insect Attractants and Repellents', Ann. Rev. Ent., vol. 11, 1966, pp. 403-422. [ Details... ]
• McKeown, K., 'Centipedes and Centipede Bites', Aust. Mus. Mag., vol. 4, 1930, pp. 59-60. [ Details... ]
• Musgrave, A., 'Some Arachnids and Millipedes from New Guinea', Aust. Mus. Mag., vol. 8, 1943, p. 132. [ Details... ]
• Ross, S. G., 'Fanning Island (Central Pacific): Its Past and Present', The Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 2, 1947, pp. 540-548. [ Details... ]
• Roth, L. M. and Eisner, T., 'Chemical Defences of Arthropods', Ann. Rev. Ent., vol. 7, 1962, pp. 107-136. [ Details... ]