Other Arthropods

Although not covered in the Master Gardener chapter on insects, there are a number of non-insect arthropods that are encountered in the landscape. These do not have the 3 body regions and three pairs of legs that insects have.

For example, the spider and tick pictured here have 8 legs. The spider has two body regions and the tick only one.

Kentucky Examples of Other Arthropds:

This is the brown recluse spider that can be found throughout Kentucky. It is recognized by the dark violin case on the part of the body where the legs attach (cephalothorax) and 3 pairs of simple eyes rather than the typical eight for spiders. Bites by this spider require medical attention. Serious tissue damage is associated with these bites.

We do have scorpions in Kentucky. Pictured above is the small species found in the commonwealth. Scorpions are arachnids. Note how the scorpion in the center carries her young on her back. At the end of the tail is the stinger that they use for defense or to subdue prey.

Tiny psuedoscorpions are also common. These are one to two millimeters in size and do not sting, as they have no tail or stinger.

The daddylonglegs is a harmless arthropod. There are many misconceptions about these. First, they are not spiders, they only have one body region. Many people believe that they are extremely venomous, this is not true as they do not even have venom glands.

Centipedes on the other hand are venomous. Centipedes are predators and use venom in their fangs to subdue prey that they capture. Centipede means 'hundred legs,' and they have one pair of legs for each body segment. They are usually flattened in cross section.

Millipedes are scavengers and do not bite or sting. There are not venomous. The name millipede means 'thousand legs'. Millipedes are recognized by the two pairs of legs for each body segment. The millipede in the photo above has lost a few of its legs on several segments. Millipedes are usually rounded in cross section.

This crustacean is common in the landscape and is called by many names. Some refer to these as sowbugs, rolypolies, or pill bugs. They are scavengers that are found in protected places with high moisture.

Updated November 2005