Millipede

Millipedes sometimes are called "thousand-leggers," but they usually have 30-90 plus pairs of legs. They are widely distributed throughout the United States and most of the world, with about 1,000 species occurring in the US.

Recognition

Adults are about 1/16 to 5-1/2 inches long, usually cylindrical and wormlike but some slightly flattened. Color usually blackish or brownish but some red, orange, or with mottled patters, with one pair short, seven-segmented antennae. Usually a cluster of simple eyes on each side of head. Most body segments bear two pairs of legs, except first three to four segments and last one to three segments which have one pair or no legs.

First instar millipedes usually have no more than seven body segments and three pairs of legs. Additional segments and pairs of legs are added with each molt.

Habits

Millipedes have high moisture needs, like pill bugs and sow bugs. They typically are found in areas of high moisture and decaying vegetation such as under trash, piles of grass clippings, flowerbed mulches, leaf litter, etc. Millipedes are nocturnal or active at night. Sometimes, and usually in the autumn, millipedes will migrate in great numbers. This is thought to be the result of natural hibernation movement, with heavy rains and a rising water table forcing them out of their natural abodes, and warm temperatures in late autumn. Their apparent habit of crawling up such things as trees and walls for mating purposes, and/or extremely high populations building up under very favorable conditions, followed by drought, can involve several hundred individuals to hundreds of thousands, sometimes several million millipedes. They usually do not survive indoors for more than a few days unless there are high moisture conditions and a food supply present.