Narceus americanus is a large millipede of eastern North America. Common names include American giant millipede, worm millipede, and iron worm. It inhabits the eastern seaboard of North America west to Georgetown, Texas, north of the Ottine wetlands. It has a nearly cylindrical gray body, reaching a length of 4 inches (100 mm). They can be commonly found in or under decaying logs from March to October. When threatened, they sometimes curl up or release a noxious liquid that contains large amounts of benzoquinones which can cause dermatological burns. This fluid may irritate eyes or skin. Many other millipedes secrete hydrogen cyanide, and while there have also been claims that N. americanus releases hydrogen cyanide, they are unsubstantiated. They do, however, excrete a substance that causes a temporary, non-harmful discoloration of the skin known as millipede burn.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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DetritivoreDetritivores (also known as detrivores, detritophages, detritus feeders, or detritus eaters) are organisms that obtain nutrients by consuming detri...
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CoprophageCoprophage animals are those that consume feces. Domesticated and wild mammals are sometimes coprophagic, and in some species, this forms an essent...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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FossorialA fossorial animal is one adapted to digging which lives primarily but not solely, underground. Some examples are badgers, naked mole-rats, clams, ...
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PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
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Though capable of releasing irritating and foul-smelling liquid from ozopores when aggressively disturbed, they can typically be safely handled by humans and are not uncommon on the arthropod pet market.
Their cuticle is somewhat water permeable, so they seek out damp or humid environments and have exhibited specific behaviors in response to desiccation stress. If exposed to a dry or actively desiccating environment, they will first expend energy trying to find a more favorable environment, and if this fails they reflexively curl into the typical defensive position. This position closes spiracles located at the base of legs, preventing further water loss. From a partially dehydrated state they can reabsorb moisture from high-humidity air, but moisture-rich food is necessary for complete recovery to a fully hydrated state. Molting while burrowed into the ground or into rotting wood can also be a response to chronic dehydrating conditions.
N. americanus are detritivores, primarily consuming decaying wood and leaf litter. They have also been found to feed on deer scat and fresh fruit, preferring these to their typical diet when given the choice. Most feeding activity occurs at night.
The average lifespan of these millipedes is unknown, but they can live up to eleven years in captivity or in the wild. Sexual maturity is not reached until 1–2 years of age.
Mating occurs at the beginning of spring through to early summer. Males mate via transfer of a spermatophore, and females are able to store this sperm to fertilize eggs at a later time. Other millipede species may lay 20–300 eggs, but N. americanus lay just one egg in a nest made of chewed leaf litter and excrement. The female millipede will wrap herself around the egg and nest until it hatches several weeks later, producing a millipede with seven body segments and only three leg pairs. The number of body segments and leg pairs are increased with each molting, and there is no parental investment after egg hatching.
