To Walk A Thousand Miles with the American Giant Millipede
The American giant millipede, also known as the worm millipede or the iron worm (Narceus americanus) is a species of millipede found throughout eastern North America, from the Atlantic coast through to the Mississippi River basin. They can inhabit a variety of environments, but primarily reside in deciduous forests and agricultural areas with high humidity.
American giant millipedes spend most of their time buried in leaf litter or burrowed underground, and only emerge at night to feed. Their diet consists mainly of decaying wood and leaves, especially those which also harbor fungi. They have a variety of predators including foxes, racoons, opossums, passerine birds, lizards, frogs, salamanders, beetles, and centipedes. N. americanus' main deterrent is the irritating and foul-smelling liquid they can secrete from their pores, as well as rolling up into a ball to protect their vulnerable underbelly.
The iron worm is the largest millipede species in North America. Adults regularly reach up to 2.5 g (0.08 oz) in weight and 10.2 cm (4 in) in length. Like all millipedes, their bodies are divided into segments, with two legs per segment. These segments are typically black, with a red edge; the legs are also red. Males have longer antennae than females, but otherwise the two sexes are indistinguishable.
Mating for N. americanus begins in the spring and continues through most of the summer. Males attract females via pheromones, and once a female is located they climb atop her to deposit a packet of sperm called a spermatophore. Both sexes typically mate with several individuals over the course of the season, and females can store sperm for long periods of time. After mating, the female lays a single egg in a leaf liter nest and guards it until it hatches several weeks later. Hatchlings are fully dependent upon emerging from the egg, and reach full maturity by the time they're a year old. Individuals can live up to 11 years in the wild.
Conservation status: The IUCN has not evaluated the American giant millipede. Their population is considered relatively large and stable, although they are frequently targeted as agricultural pests.
Photos
Patrick Coin
Kyle Klotz
Grayson Smith
