Page 27 - World of Animals - Issue #28 Magazine

Amazing arthropods

Golden tortoise

beetles are

able to change

their colour

The golden tortoise beetle is able to control
its own colour by altering the reflectivity of its

surface whenever it is agitated or looking for a
mate. It can change from shiny gold to reddish
brown in as little as two minutes in an amazing
process that involves tiny grooves running beneath the
insect’s transparent shell.

These channels are usually filled with a liquid red
pigment, which fully reflect light to give an illusion of gold but

when the pigment is drained, the reflective properties diminish

and the red colouring can be seen. Researchers say this not only aids
sexual signalling, but it helps to protect the beetle from danger.
Cyanide millipedes secrete symmetrical which means
Arthropods are bilaterally
toxic cyanide from sides are mirror images, and
that their left and right
tiny pores to defend they can be divided with a
straight line.
against predators or complete metamorphosis.
They undergo either simple
In the complete process, the
juvenile will look different
Cyanide millipedes are striking insects with flashes from its parent until it

of yellow running down the sides of their black undergoes its transformation.
bodies. But as with a lot of luridly coloured Their circulatory system
animals, these vivid markings are as a warning is open, unlike in humans
for predators to keep away. If they get too and vertebrates. The blood
close, predators may get a whiff of an almond-

CYANIDE MILLIPEDE scented gas – otherwise known as cyanide. flows freely in cavities and
Harpaphe haydeniana When they feel endangered, the millipedes directly touches organs and
Class Diplopoda internal tissue.
curl up, squeeze their muscles and shoot
cyanide through their glands. This usually kills Arthropods are cold-blooded
predators by preventing cells in their bodies and scientists have found
from taking in oxygen but even if the victim they grow larger when on
Territory North America survives, the foul taste and terrible pain will warm land but smaller in
Diet Dead leaves and decayed
wood ensure it leaves well alone next time. warm water.
Lifespan 2-3 years This tactic is not unique (other millipedes
Adult weight Unknown use this kind of chemical weaponry too) but it Most arthropods lay eggs.
Conservation status Thousands of eggs can be
has proved to be so effective for this particular
laid at one time in order
species, that only one predator – the ground to ensure enough young
NOT EVALUATED beetle, which can emit a smelly liquid of its own – survive to keep the
has adapted well enough to eat it.
species going.
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