If you are afraid insects, this might be difficult reading. A fossil found a beach in England shows that the biggest bug that ever lived was the size a small car. The fossil is a giant millipede. This monster creature could have had hundreds legs. Although the name "millipede" means "one thousand legs" Latin, few species actually have 1,000 feet. There is one species that can have 1,300 legs. The fossil hunters England said what they found is "definitely the biggest bug that ever lived". They said the millipede was around 2.7 metres long and weighed 50kg. This would have been a scary sight. It would need a huge amount insect spray to keep it away.
The scientists found the fossil chance. A lecturer the University of Cambridge's department earth sciences said they found a rock the beach. It had recently fallen a cliff. He said: "It was a complete fluke of a discovery. It was an incredibly exciting find." He explained that the fossil dates back 326 million years. This was 100 million years the Age of the Dinosaurs. The researchers believe that the millipede had a high-nutrient diet because it was so huge. They said: "While we can't know sure what they ate, there were plenty nutritious nuts and seeds available... the time." They may also have eaten frogs and lizards, but not humans (or any our ancient ancestors).
