What are Millipedes?
Millipedes belong to the family Diplopoda and are not actually an insect, but rather an arthropod. Millipedes are typically brown or black in color and tend to range from 1 to 2 inches in length, but some may grow larger.
Unlike centipedes, another arthropod they are often mistaken for, millipedes have two sets of legs for every segment of their body, and when they move, their legs appear to be moving in a wave-like motion.
They do not have a thousand legs, like their name suggests, but actually have somewhere between 60 and 400. A millipede has much shorter legs than a centipede and a millipede cannot move very fast despite the number of legs they have.
Why do I have them?
Most millipedes feed on damp and decaying vegetation and leaf litter. They spend most of their lives in the soil, but may also overwinter in leaf litter and debris found under trees.
Occasionally, millipedes will make their way from their moist living conditions into homes, but will typically die because of lack of moisture and food. Millipedes are also attracted to light and may be found in large numbers around patios, driveways, decks and commercial buildings and in parking lots.
