# @nationalparkservice on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CejI4ccudoT
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/21024009-nationalparkservice-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/5ebeed161e.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-06-08T15:18:19.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** National Park Service (@nationalparkservice) — https://gondola.cc/nationalparkservice

## Caption

“I am a millipede, I am amazing
I command you to gaze upon my face!”

Hold on, just a minute. Check out this millipede, also known as Apheloria virginiensis. Because of their lack of speed and inability to bite or sting, a millipede's primary defense mechanism is to curl into a tight coil, thereby protecting their delicate legs inside their exterior body armor. Apheloria virginiensis uses a different strategy: it secretes toxic cyanide compounds to keep from being eaten. I think we saw that on Dateline? Its vibrant stripes let predators know to watch out! Don’t worry too much though – like other millipedes, these beauties don’t bite or sting. Just be sure to wash your hands and avoid touching your eyes if you happen to handle one. But why are you handling one in the first place? 

These Apheloria virginiensis millipedes were spotted deep in the woods at Malvern Hill in Virginia, where fallen trees and dead leaves provide them with plenty of food. 

P.S. Millipedes have two pairs of legs per segment. Despite "milli" in their name, no millipede has 1,000 legs (well, that a relief on the shoe budget), but common species have anywhere from 36 to 400 legs. #TheMoreYouKnow 

Images: What's two inches long, has dozens of yellow legs, and oozes a cyanide toxin? This brightly colored millipede resting on patches of moss and dirt at @richmond.nps NPS Photos/Marie Pinto 

#abugslife #millipede #nature #outdoors #greatoutdoors #virginia #richmond

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 16,920
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 94

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National Park Service | @nationalparkservice | https://gondola.cc/nationalparkservice | Government Organization |

## Tags

outdoors, nature, millipede, themoreyouknow, richmond, abugslife, virginia, greatoutdoors

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