Centipedes and Millipedes - Pale Millipedes
Xystocheir dissecta
Xystocheir dissecta
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Pale millipedes are nocturnal, so there's a mystery about them: they fluoresce (or glow) under ultraviolet lighting--and at night, it is unlikely that they would ever be exposed to ultraviolet light. According to UC Davis entomologist Robert Kimsey, these millipedes' "exoskeleton absorbs the light and then re-emits it in a slightly different wavelength, or color." Researchers have found that a number of species of millipedes are fluorescent, but no one has figured out what the purpose of the glow is. One theory proposed is that the fluorescing is to warn away predators. This could be helpful as the pale millipede contains cyanide! If it feels threatened, the millipede can actually spray hydrogen cyanide at a predator. The chemical isn't a threat to humans, though--at least if you don't try to eat one!
