Identifying Millipedes / Types of Millipedes

April 11th, 2009 Posted in Centipedes & Millipedes




Millipedes, also commonly called “wire bugs,” are a type of bug that is more of a nuisance to your everyday life than one that actually poses a threat to yourself or your family.

In this article, we will look at:

  • Identifying what differentiates a millipede from a centipede

  • What a millipede looks like

  • Differences between the most common types of millipedes


What is a millipede?

One of the most distinguishable characteristics of a millipede is the large number of short legs that it has. The name millipede is taken from Latin for milli (thousand) and ped (foot). Millipedes do not actually have a million feet, but typically have 80 to 400.

Other common features of a millipede are:

  • About 1.5 inches long.

  • Typically black or brown in color (some species are red or orange).

  • Their eyes are simple and flat and arranged around the front and side of the insects head.

  • Many species lose their eye sight.

  • Males have one or two pairs of legs that are used to transfer sperm packets to the females during copulation.


Their heads contain sensory organs that are known as Tömösváry” organs, found in front of and behind the antennae, and are shaped as small and oval rings at the base of the antennae.


Millipede habits:

  • Are detritivores – meaning that they eat any soil that is made up of damp and decaying wood and plant materials.

  • Primarily active at night.

  • Able to powerfully burrow tunnels through the dirt.

  • Their lifespan is very short, usually dying with a few days of entering a home or a building unless there is a source of moisture and food.

  • If a millipede has everything it needs, it can live anywhere from 5-10 years!




Centipedes and Millipedes, What’s the difference?

Aren’t they the same thing?

No – while they are bugs from a similar family, they are two entirely different kinds. The chart below gives a brief overview of the noticeable differences between the two insects.






Millipede Types and Species

There are a variety of different kinds of millipedes. The class itself contains about 10,000 species with 13 orders and 115 families. Below is a list of several common millipedes that you could encounter:

  • Black Millipedes (Cylindroiulus and Tachypodoiulus): This type is a large species with a black, shiny, cylindrical body that can measure up to 60 mm.

  • Spotter Millipede (Blaniulus): the body of this insect is thin, pale and yellow with distinct red spots along each side of the body with a length that could measure up to 20 mm long. This particular type is a pest in the garden, specifically attacking potatoes, as well as corms and bulbs.

  • Flat-backed Millipedes (Brachydesmus, Polydesmus and Oxidus): these have distinct flattened bodies with about 20 segments. They grow to 20-40 mm and vary in color from white to brown.

  • Pill Millipede (Glomeris): this type has a shiny, black, stout body that can grow up to 20 mm long. They are found in grass or piles of leaves and are often confused with woodlice because they both have a similar shape and can roll up into a tight ball. They have 17-19 pairs of legs.

  • Bristly Millipede (Polyxenus): these rarely grow to be more than 5 mm long, usually growing to be between 2-3 mm long. It differs from others because it is completely covered with a rough hair. It is brownish and usually lives in tree trunks and under the barks of fallen trees and under ivy. They appear only on dry days.

  • Duff Millipedes: These are extremely small millipedes that are covered in fine hairs and often mistaken for carpet beetle larvae. These are usually found in areas near pine trees, specifically under the bark of the tree. Duff millipedes are attracted to moisture and often enter the home, unlike other kinds of millipedes. They cannot breed nor can they do any damage in the home – they are simply annoying. Also, they usually die quickly once they enter the home.



Millipede for a Pet

You might not have known, but there is a variety of millipedes that are kept as house pets. It is most commonly known as the “Giant millipede” or the “African millipede.” As an adult, this species can live from 7-10 years and can grow to be about 10 inches long.



Some quick facts about this species (in case you are interested in a new, cuddy pet):

  • Similar to the smaller species of millipedes except, obviously, for their size.

  • Able to be held but be careful, because they might curl up into a ball and secrete a fluid that could sting skin but is generally not toxic.

  • You can have more than one millipede per tank but be wise if you do not want babies – if you have males and females in a tank they will readily reproduce.

  • A 10-15 gallon aquarium can house a couple millipedes – make sure there is a lot of floor space and lid might be a good idea.

  • The floor of the aquarium should be lined with a damp, mossy bottom and the temperature should be kept between 75-85 degrees with a high level of humidity.

  • Are herbivores, but because they are not in the wild and able to feed on decomposing organic materials, they can feed on softer fruits and vegetables.






Did You Know?

If you think you have it bad…

A German village in Bavaria called Obereichstaett is plagued with so many millipedes every Autumn (numbers in the thousands) that the village is building a foot-high steel wall around its boundaries to keep the millipedes out!

They have said pesticide is not an option because they would have to use such large amounts. Maybe they never heard of EcoSMART…

Author, Regina Lawrence

  1. 27 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!

  2. By Val Phipps on Jul 31, 2009

    I live in greece, where we have a similar problem. The worst thing is the smell; as there are so many of them in the house and they often get trodden on, the whole house starts to smell terrible. They also get into stored dry food. When they become dehydrated and die, they leave a horrible musty smell in cupboards, wardrobes, under beds and other furniture and in cushions and loose covers. BUT, the worst thing is sweeping up the tiny hatchlings for an hour or so only to find more and more emerging in their hundreds. I am very interested in them as creatures, and am trying to find out more about them worldwide, but they are a nuisance!

  3. By Jamie on Aug 1, 2009

    I think we have centiped bugs in our house….They seem to be under and in everything… I live in west wildwoood NJ a small town that flood i the winter. We had the house raise a few years ago. How dangerest are these bug… the ones i see are from about 1/2 in to 2 in. they are quick. How do we get rid of they…besides caulking everthing.. we also have animals….Please help us….

  4. By Lamont Minnis on Sep 4, 2009

    i live in the bahamas where everything is imported from trees to food.in the past year.my yard and area has started to be infested by these pest,every mourning you have to sweep up literally hundreds.there is a bad odour from them dying on the porch.HELP!HELP!

  5. By Faithley Adendorff on Sep 13, 2009

    hi there. i live in south africa had a very bad experience with at least one. i accidently swallowed one as i was trying to use my ashtma pump whenthe lights wer out. and i could tell you, IT BURNS LIKE HELL

  6. By Mark on Oct 6, 2009

    Hi there, i live in wales and we are getting some grapes from greece with millipedes in them.
    i would like to find out more info on millipedes if i can.

  7. By Jackie Earl on Oct 6, 2009

    I’d take millipeses over centipedes all day long! Please, help me keep centidedes OUT but safe for my cats. Please help! I really, really hate these things!

  8. By George D on Oct 15, 2009

    hello everyone i live in greece and once in a while we came across one of these nasty creatures (centipedes), they are awfully gros, we are wondering how to prevent them getting in our house>

  9. By Delsia G. on Oct 22, 2009

    We live in sunny SW Fl but are being invaded by millipedes. It’s not so sunny anymore. These creepy crawlies are All over our exterior walls, driveway, front entry way, lanai, pool, everywhere! They even make it inside the house! Nothing we’ve bought at local stores gets rid of them. We need your help EcoSMART! Please come to our rescue. My mom has a phobia with creepy things and our problem is so bad she won’t come over.

  10. By Valancy B on Oct 23, 2009

    Eewwwww! This morning I was at the sink and saw something curled around the bottom side of the sink drain plug. It looked like one of those fake plastic bugs that my kids play with, and it had a black body and orange legs. Since it is almost Halloween, I asked as I almost picked it up, “Is this supposed to be a joke?” And then it moved! Those things are fast! I looked it up on this site and found that it was a centipede. Can they come up through drains?

  11. By Jon EcoSMART on Oct 23, 2009

    No, they don’t come up through the drains. They most likely came in through cracks in your foundation or basement floor. They go to the sink becuase they prefer moist areas, especially if they’re dark, like a bathroom at night.

    To keep them out, go around the house and seal off any openings in the walls that could lead outside. Using a dehumidifier may also help keep their numbers down.

  12. By Karren on Oct 24, 2009

    I live in the south (east coast) and I have millipedes in my basement (the very small kind). There are so many of them I would love to use an effective organic product to deal with them (there are too many to spray with toxic chemicals indoors).

  13. By ryan copass on Oct 24, 2009

    I would love to try ecosmart. we just started finding them inside my house and i want to get rid of them

  14. By soulesista on Nov 18, 2009

    I am having the same problem. I live in the northwest usa and as soon as fall started we started to notice small millipedes coming from under the front and back door. I thought they were just small worms. We have in the past also had a big problem with spiders. I dont know how all these bugs keep getting in but i would like help dealing with it.

  15. By Zuki on Feb 1, 2010

    I love millipedes! Centipedes are kind of weird, but I LOVE millipedes! Ever since my 7th birthday, I get these animal people to come and bring cool animals. So the first year, they brought a foot long millipede. The next year they brought her back again they brought her a lot, but on my 9th birthdya it dies, so they brought a new one who I like to call Okinakuro!

  16. By joanique on Feb 15, 2010

    omg!! millipedes are so wierd with all thier little legs, the kids ove to poke them with sticks!! haha

  17. By Jacob on Jun 30, 2010

    i live in oklahoma and i caught a millipede and i was wondering what kind it was. its sort of flat, brownish, and has yellow legs and yellow on the edges of the segments.

  18. By danisha on Jul 19, 2010

    hello, my basement is absolutely FULL of millipedes! they won’t go away and we just vacuum them up but they keep coming back. we just recently taped up the bottom of our basement door in hopes that it keeps them out; i’ll let you all know if that works!

  19. By Barbara Davenport on Jul 22, 2010

    We live in the country, a small town in Louisiana, we get these small Millipedes that invade us EVERY summer (the yard and home). We have a 10 month old who puts everything in her mouth and she has eaten 3 of these things! I’m scared they will make her sick! We have used every insecticide available ouitside of the home, nothing seems to control them. They stink like a chemical, YUCK!!!

  20. By krista on Oct 13, 2010

    we have millipedes in our basement. i live in upstate ny and this summer we were ivaded by them. we had so many in the creek by our house that the D.E.C. came down to check it out. they are nasty & they stink when you kill them. our basement is refinished and that is where our bedroom and living room are. please help us to get rid of these pests.

  21. By texas dorie on Nov 8, 2010

    Yes, I too am being invaded by these things. little brown/black guys with lots of legs. Roanoke, Texas. They keep coming through the back door I think. Big field behind us. I have not tried to kill them yet. A chemical barrier usually works around perameter of house, but I haven’t dealt with millipedes yet. we have lots of spiders here too.

  22. By courtney on Dec 12, 2010

    hi,im courtney im at my sisters house and her yard has a lot of millapeds and they are huge,creepy,and craly they are so weid one of them was in the house and i steped on it this morning it sounded wet .ewwwwwww ecosmart how can you help me . i need to know how to get rid of them .

  23. By Tony on Apr 15, 2011

    I found this article on millipedes very informative. Then I was shocked and thrilled when I saw the picture of the boy with the millipede on his head. Shocked because the picture was taken at one of my shows in Tucson and that is my millipede on his head!

  24. By Teresa Rhoad on May 26, 2011

    I found this info searching on google for millipedes in Ga. Let me say, boy was I happy to learn they are not poisonous nor dangerous, just bothersome. I started seeing them in my garage about a year ago and now they are back, must be the season. Very hot and humid here. I cannot stand these things, they seriously creep me out. Would love to check out your ecosmart to avoid them all together.

  25. By Marianne Kawecki on Aug 29, 2011

    Hi I was just sitting in my living room waiting out Hurricane Irene when I looked up and saw this creepy crawly thing coming out from under my refrigerator and crawling across my kitchen floor. I went to pick it up with a paper towel but immediately dropped and screamed. I expected it to feel like a WORM (I can deal with those) My husband came to the rescue and got rid of it. I’m hoping that will be the end of them. I’ve been in this house for 12 1/2 years and never seen one and don’t care to see another.

  26. By pavel Svaton on Oct 2, 2011

    when i use to live in Key West, we had these in all kinds of places.But there was one experience that i wanted to share.There was a period of time when it was raining and sometimes they crawl on our ceiling and it has happened a few times that one of them fell in my bed and i happen to lie on it.These were the kind,when you touch them,i know from numerous times when i was cleaning so when you touch them,they immediately shrink into a circle.So when i lied on them couple of times,every time it burned like a cigarette burn and every time had a scar of a exact shape of the shrunk circle millipede! One of the scars i still have and i moved away from Key West eight years ago!

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  2. Oct 19, 2009: Centipedes and millipedes giving you the creeps?
  3. Oct 23, 2009: African Millipedes Are Popular Pets

27 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers! (details)