PHOXICHILIDIUM, LITHOBIUS, JULUS 199 



MYRIAPODA 

 LITHOBIUS (Centipede, Earwig) 



These animals may frequently be found under stones, logs 

 or boards, or about rubbish or manure heaps. They live 

 largely on insects, larvae, and small worms, and are very 



active. 



1. Notice the shape of the body and count the number of 

 segments. Is there a distinct head? Are the segments very 



movable? 



2. How many appendages does each segment possess? 

 Are all of the segments provided with appendages? Allow 

 the animal to run and see how the legs are used. Do those of 

 a side all move in the same direction at the same time? Are 

 all of the legs alike? Notice the pair of appendages just 

 behind the head and see how they differ from the others. 

 These appendages are organs of prehension that are used in 

 grasping the prey. They are provided with poison glands 

 that open on their inner sides near their free ends. 



3. Examine the head and find the eyes, antennae, and 

 mouth parts. The latter consist of a labrum, a pair of man- 

 dibles, and two pairs of maxillae, the last pair of which is 

 united to form a labium. 



4. Understand how the animal breathes. The stigmata 

 are situated near the bases of the legs, but are hard to see 

 except in favorable specimens. 



Make a drawing of the animal. 



JULUS (Thousand-legs) 



These animals are frequently very abundant under the 

 dead bark of logs or stumps, in decaying wood, and in decay- 

 ing heaps of grass. In the autumn they frequently congre- 

 gate under boards and in corners. They feed largely on 

 decaying vegetable matter, but may become pests in gardens, 

 destroying tomatoes and fallen fruits and many vegetables. 



1. Disturb a specimen and see how its rolls up. Can this 



