In what has to be one of the strangest studies so far this year, scientists have revealed that millipedes ’ genitals glow under UV light.
Researchers from the Field Museum discovered the bizarre adaptation when looking for a way to tell near-identical species of millipedes apart.
They found that under UV light, parts of the different species’ genitals glowed different colours.
Strangely, the researchers are unsure why millipedes have evolved glowing genitals - especially since the animals have poor eye-sight.
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Petra Sierwald, who led the study, said: “Millipedes don't see well at all, they don't see images. I don't know if they see any colour.”
While the reason for the adaptation remains unclear, it’s a helpful way for scientists to tell species apart.
Ms Sierwald added: “One of the benefits of millipede research is we can use them as environmental indicators.
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“By collecting them and seeing where the different species are distributed over time, we can learn about climate and environmental change.
“And millipedes are important to their ecosystems- they’re decomposers that release nutrients trapped in rotting leaf litter back to the soil."
