Pest Guide > Occasional Invaders > Millipede
Millipede
Appearance
- Approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inch in length
- They are brown in color and have a hard, worm-like body lined with legs
- There are two pairs of legs attached to each body segment
- Adults have anywhere from 30-90 legs
- When resting, they tend to coil up
Behavior
- Need lots of moisture and normally live outdoors in damp areas such as mulch, compost and flower beds
- A change in weather conditions may stimulate them to move indoors
- In dry weather, they may enter buildings to look for moisture
- Once inside, they usually can not survive for long, due to lack of moisture
Diet
- Scavengers - feed on damp and decaying vegetable matter as well as dead insects, worms and snails
- They may attack living plants during dry periods in order to obtain needed moisture
