My millipede chewed on my wrist!

A

aoikirin

Third Instar
I picked it up and it started eating me !  It didn't hurt but I could feel it.  I let it nibble for a while and placed it back.  Why would it do that ?  

It has carrots and millipede substrate.  But I guess it needed some human flesh lol. 

 
Many millipedes do this when handled, it may be because many species seem to enjoy eating keratin, which is what our skin, hair, and nails are made of. Chitin, which makes up a millipedes exoskeleton, is also similar to keratin from what I hear (I am not 100% sure however), so it may be that they mistake our skin for chitin, which they eat on occasion in preparation for their next molt, causing this behavior. 

People with a low pain tolerance (like myself) may feel the chewing as painful pinches or uncomfortable rasping, and I believe larger species may chew enough to cause a large pinching feeling even for those with a high pain tolerance. What kind(s) of millipede do you have?

Hope this helps,

Arthroverts

 
That's very informative thank you !! The one in question.  I looked it up and it's an andornatus ornatus? Is that a proper species ? 

 
I don't have any millipedes yet, but eventually might consider getting some.  Any advice is welcome, thanks.

 
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