GENIUS centipedes shine under UV light – and scientists do not know why

In what must be one of the strangest studies so far this year, scientists have revealed that Millipede genitals shine under UV rays.

Field Museum researchers have discovered this strange adaptation by looking for a way to differentiate nearly identical centipede species.

They found that under the ultraviolet rays, parts of the genitals of different species shone in different colors.

Oddly enough, researchers do not know why centipedes have developed glowing genitals – especially since animals have poor eyesight.

Petra Sierwald, who led the study, said: "Millipedes do not see well at all, they do not see the images. I do not know if they see a color. "

Although the reason for the adaptation remains uncertain, it is a useful way for scientists to distinguish species.

Ms. Sierwald added, "One of the benefits of millipede research is that we can use them as environmental indicators.

"By collecting them and observing where different species are distributed over time, we can learn about climate and environmental changes.

"Millipedes are important to their ecosystems, they are decomposers that release the nutrients trapped in the decaying leaf litter to the ground."