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Quiz about Centipedes and Millipedes
Quiz about Centipedes and Millipedes

Centipedes and Millipedes Trivia Quiz


This quiz was prompted by finding an unusual centipede in the basement at work! Learn more about these fascinating creatures.

A multiple-choice quiz by crisw. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
crisw
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
81,747
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
10 / 20
Plays
4532
Awards
Editor's Choice
Last 3 plays: ranjanbest (10/20), Guest 84 (14/20), comark2000 (20/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. Which is NOT a difference between a centipede and a millipede?
Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. What does "centipede" mean?

Answer: (Two words)
Question 3 of 20
3. Some millipedes glow in the dark.


Question 4 of 20
4. Some people keep millipedes as pets.


Question 5 of 20
5. Centipedes and millipedes are insects.


Question 6 of 20
6. What do most centipedes eat?
Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. What do most millipedes eat?
Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. Some centipedes live in the ocean.


Question 9 of 20
9. Thousands of millipedes sometimes invade homes.


Question 10 of 20
10. How fast can the fastest centipede move?
Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. Which is NOT a way that centipedes defend themselves?
Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. Which is NOT a way that millipedes defend themselves? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. The "bite" of a centipede is often fatal.


Question 14 of 20
14. Some people/cultures eat centipedes.


Question 15 of 20
15. How many species of centipedes and millipedes occur in the USA? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. Most centipedes and millipedes give birth to live young.


Question 17 of 20
17. Some centipedes care for their young.


Question 18 of 20
18. How long can a centipede live? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. The centipede I found was about 3 inches long, with dark stripes, long antennae and 15 pairs of very long legs. It is commonly found in basements, where it feeds on cockroaches and other insects. By what common name is it known? Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. Centipedes and millipedes carry diseases that are dangerous to humans.



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 14 2024 : ranjanbest: 10/20
Feb 27 2024 : Guest 84: 14/20
Feb 15 2024 : comark2000: 20/20
Feb 07 2024 : Guest 172: 10/20

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which is NOT a difference between a centipede and a millipede?

Answer: The presence of jointed legs

Both centipedes and millipedes are members of the phylum Arthropoda, which means "jointed legs." Millipedes have more legs per segment than centipedes. Millipedes have a hard, waxy, chitinous exoskeleton, while centipedes lack any hard or waxy covering. Millipedes are primarily scavengers, while most centipedes are carnivorous.
2. What does "centipede" mean?

Answer: hundred feet

Throughout history, man has been impressed by the legginess of these animals!
3. Some millipedes glow in the dark.

Answer: True

One small genus found in California is bioluminescent. It is also blind. No one knows why the luminescence evolved.
4. Some people keep millipedes as pets.

Answer: True

The African giant black millipede is the most commonly kept. Some keepers have received mild chemical burns from their "pets."
5. Centipedes and millipedes are insects.

Answer: False

They are arthropods. There are several major groups of arthropods. Both centipedes and millipedes are in the subphylum Myriapoda. Millipedes are class Diplopoda, centipedes are class Chilopoda. Other groups of arthropods include subphylum Insecta- the insects; subphylum Crustacea- lobsters, shrimp, crabs and the like; and subphylum Arachnida- spiders, scorpions, ticks and the like.
6. What do most centipedes eat?

Answer: Insects and other small animals

Many centipedes are adapted to be swift hunters.
7. What do most millipedes eat?

Answer: Plants and decaying matter

Most millipedes are found in damp places eating damp things.
8. Some centipedes live in the ocean.

Answer: True

Hydroschendyla submarina, a member of a family that usually lives underground, lives in oceans off the coast of Europe.
9. Thousands of millipedes sometimes invade homes.

Answer: True

Damp conditions can cause accelerated breeding rates, leading to harmless but messy "millipede invasions."
10. How fast can the fastest centipede move?

Answer: 20 inches per second

That's a little over one mile per hour, but it looks much faster when the centipede is scuttling across your basement floor!
11. Which is NOT a way that centipedes defend themselves?

Answer: Biting

The first pair of a centipede's legs, below the mouth, are modified into claws called "forcipules" that can inject venom into both prey and enemies. The Chinese thought this poison could cure rheumatism, kidney stones, skin disease and scarring. The hind legs of some centipedes also have pinchers, but these are not venomous.
12. Which is NOT a way that millipedes defend themselves?

Answer: Venomous bite

Some millipedes can spray a toxic brew containing hydrocyanic acid. Many millipedes secrete a poisonous liquid from glands called "repugnatorial glands" through pores on their bodies. This liquid contains benzoquinones and can actually cause chemical burns that can take up to 14 months to disappear. One species of millipede, Polyxenus fasciculatus, is covered with porcupine-like quills that can actually penetrate and kill attacking invertebrates.
13. The "bite" of a centipede is often fatal.

Answer: False

It isn't really a bite, as the venom is injected from modified claws. Most often, the venom causes effects similar to that of a bee sting- swelling, itchiness, hives and pain. There is a reported fatality caused by the large tropical centipede Scolopendra subspinipes. The victim was a 7 year old Filipino girl who was bitten on the head.
14. Some people/cultures eat centipedes.

Answer: True

A visitor to Central Africa reported that this was the most disgusting cuisine of his trip!
15. How many species of centipedes and millipedes occur in the USA?

Answer: About 1000

Most centipedes and millipedes are found in the tropics, as they thrive in moist, warm locations. There are about 13,000 species worldwide.
16. Most centipedes and millipedes give birth to live young.

Answer: False

Most lay from 20-300 eggs. Some species lay them singly, other lay them in groups.
17. Some centipedes care for their young.

Answer: True

Some species make nests and tend the eggs and then the newly-hatched young for up to 50 days. They guard but do not feed them.
18. How long can a centipede live?

Answer: Around 6 years

Some species actually take several years to mature!
19. The centipede I found was about 3 inches long, with dark stripes, long antennae and 15 pairs of very long legs. It is commonly found in basements, where it feeds on cockroaches and other insects. By what common name is it known?

Answer: House centipede

Scutigera coleoptera, the house centipede, is the only species of centipede that actually reproduces in dwellings. It takes 3 years to mature. The scutigerid centipedes have compound eyes (most centipedes are either eyeless or have one or a few eye facets) and are active in daylight as swift hunters.
20. Centipedes and millipedes carry diseases that are dangerous to humans.

Answer: False

They are not known to carry any diseases. Centipedes are beneficial, as they eat so many insects. Millipedes can damage gardens.
Source: Author crisw

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