Millipedes

"The one-legged creature is envious of the millipede; the millipede is envious of the snake; the snake is envious of the wind; the wind is envious of the eye; the eye is envious of the heart".
- Zhuangzi

introduction

Please note: Although millipedes are beneficial to the garden, cultivating a millipede-friendly habitat is under no circumstances more important than your health. If you are allergic to the fluids of millipedes or have friends and family who are who frequently visit your yard, take the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe.

Millipedes are garden critters that have two pairs of jointed legs on their long, rounded body segments. They are known scientifically as the class Diplopoda. The common name Millipede is derived from the Latin for 'thousand feet', though only one species (Eumillipes persephone) is known to have at least that many (it has up to 1,300). Most of these organisms are slow-moving, and eat decaying leaves, other dead plant matter, fungi, or plant fluids. Generally harmless to humans, they can defend themselves when disturbed by excreting chemicals that cause burns or long-term discoloration to skin.

The scientific study of Millipedes is known as diplopodology (a scientist who studies them is called a diplopodologist). Millipedes come in a wide variety of body shapes and sizes, ranging from 1/16 of an inch to around 14 inches in length. Generally, most are black or brown in color, though there are a few brightly-colored species as well. Some are even bioluminescent. Their heads are rounded, and bear large mandibles, a single pair of antennae, and other sensory organs. Their eyes are found on each side of their head, though many species, especially those who dwell in caves, have lost their eyes over many years of evolution and are functionally blind.

Millipedes have eyes that look like black patches on either side of their heads.

These creatures have two pairs of legs per segment.

Some cave-dwelling species of Millipede have lost their eyes completely.

The bodies of millipede species can be flattened or cylindrical, and are composed of segments covered in typically hard plates. They do not have the waxy coating many insects have, and are susceptible to water loss. Each segment holds two pairs of legs (in contrast to the one pair of legs on each segment in Centipede species). Most species have between 34 and 400 legs total. They breathe through spiracles located on each of their body segments, and their heart runs the entire length of their body, with the aorta stretching into the head.

Millipede Behavior

Female millipedes lay between 10 and 300 eggs at a time (depending on the species) and fertilize them with sperm offered by a male that they hold inside their bodies until they are ready to lay. In some species, after laying eggs the female leaves, and in other species, females provide parental care for eggs and young. Eggs will hatch after just a few weeks' time, and babies typically only have three pairs of legs. They continually molt as they grow, finally reaching adulthood. These organisms can live for between one and ten years.

Millipede females lay eggs.

They care for their young after they are born in some situations.

Millipedes prefer moist environments.

Because of their tendency to lose water so quickly, millipedes tend to congregate in moist environments. They are present on all continents except for Antarctica, and typically live in leaf litter, dead wood, or soil. They tend to burrow, adopting a mainly subterranean lifestyle. There are some larger millipede species that live their lives above-ground, however, and have evolved to move more quickly. Most are detritivores, eating decomposing vegetation, feces, or organic matter in soil. They are prey to a wide range of animals, including reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, and insects. Their primary defense mechanism is to roll themselves into a tight coil, which protects their undersides and delicate legs inside their armored exoskeleton. Many species also have the ability to emit liquid secretions with irritating or fetid chemicals. Some of these substances are caustic, and can burn skin and the exoskeletons of insects.

Millipede Species

Abacion magnum
Native to North America, this crested millipede

Aniulus garius
(Giant Centipede)
This species of millipede is found in North America.

Anombrocheir bifurcata
Endemic to Northern California's inland coastal range, and are white to yellow with yellow to orange markings.

Anombrocheir spinosa
Native to the inland coastal range in Northern California, this species is typically light orange to brown with orange-yellow markings.

Apheloria montana
Flat-backed millipede found in North America.

Apheloria tigana
(Yellow and Black Flat Millipede)
Large, North American species that secretes cyanide.

Apheloria virginiensis
(Kentucky Flat Millipede)
This large North American species secretes cyanide.

Auturus evides
This flat-backed millipede is native to North America. Dark brown with light orange spots. To a little over an inch long.

Bdellozonium cerviculatum
This species is native to California's forests, and lives in decaying logs and tree bark.

Blaniulus guttulatus
(Spotted Snake Millipede)
Long, thin millipede with white to cream-colored body. To half an inch long.

Boraria deturkiana
Flat-backed millipede native to North America.

Brachycybe lecontii
Found in the southeastern United States, these millipedes is bright pink and blind. It forms colonies.

Brachycybe producta
Native to Northern California.

Brachycybe rosea
Native to Northern California.

Brachyiulus pusillus
30-34 segmented millipede that is widespread in North America. Can have light yellow to red lines. Typically found on bushes and trees, or in walls or fences.

Californiulus euphanus
Native to Oregon and Washington in the United States.

Californiulus yosemitensis
Native to California, Oregon, and Nevada, these millipedes reach up to 4.3 inches long and are black.

Cherokia georgiana
(Wrinkled Flat-Backed Millipede)
Native to the southeastern United States, these millipedes have a wrinkly texture and are dark brown to black with yellow marks.

Chicobolus spinigerus
(Florida Ivory Millipede)
This species is native to the southeastern United States, and range from 1.5 to 3.5 inches long.

Cylindroiulus punctatus
(Blunt-Tailed Snake Millipede)
This species has been introduced to North America, and are brown with around 100 legs. Found on trees under bark. Long-lived.

Desmonus pudicus
(Tiny Bumpy Millipede)
Native to North America.

Eurymerodesmus melacis
A species of flat-backed millipede found in North America.

Euryurus leachii
(Leach's Millipede)
These millipedes are found in North America.

Gosodesmus claremontus
Widely distributed across California, this species can be bright pink to coral-colored, and is 0.6 to 1 inch long.

Harpaphe haydeniana
(Yellow-Spotted Millipede)
This black millipede has sides dotted with bright yellow. To 2 inches long. Native to the Pacific Coast. Secretes hydrogen cyanide.

Illacme plenipes
Native to central California, this species produces up to 750 legs, and is generally cream-colored.

Litiulus alaskanus
Native to the northeastern Pacific, where it lives in Pacific old growth rainforests.

Mytoxia spp.
(Sierra Luminous Millipedes)
These millipedes are blind, and produce cyanide. All species are bioluminescent, and reach up to 1.5 inches long.

Nannaria ohionis
Flat-backed millipede species native to the midwestern United States.

Nannaria swiftae
(Swift Twisted-Claw Millipede)
Native to Tennessee, this species was discovered in 2022. They are chestnut brown with orange markings.

Narceus americanus
(American Giant Millipede)
Native to eastern North America, this species has a cylindrical grey body with reddish bands to 4 inches long.

Narceus gordanus
(Smokey Ghost Millipede)
Native to the southeastern US, to just under 5 inches long with a light green-tan body.

Nyssodesmus python
(Python Millipede)
Flat-backed millipede native to Costa Rica that can reach up to 4 inches long.

Octoglena anura
Native to North America.

Octoglena bivirgata
This species of millipede is native to North America.

Orophe unicus
Native to the Rocky Mountains of northern Idaho, these brown to black millipedes have yellow to orange spots.

Orthoporus ornatus
(Desert Millipede)
This species of millipede is native to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Between 3 and 9 inches long, brown-red.

Paeromopus angusticeps
This millipede is found in California, and ranges from 4 to 6 inches long. They are brown to bluish-black.

Pleuroloma flavipes
(Traveling Cherry Millipede)
Native to eastern North America, these millipedes aggregate in large numbers, and are reddish-brown.

Polyxenus lagurus
(Bristly Millipede)
Native to North America and Europe, this species is covered with detachable bristles used for defense.

Psammodesmus bryophorus (Moss Millipede)
This species is native to Colombia and have 19 segments. They are dark brown to black.

Ptyoiulus impressus
Found in North America.

Rhysodesmus texicolens
Flat-backed millipede native to North America. Light brown and pale yellow markings.

Rudiloria trimaculata
(Bob's Yellow and Black Millipede)
Native to the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.

Sigmoria australis
This species of flat-backed millipede is native to North America.

Sigmoria latior
This species of flat-backed millipede is found in North America.

Slenocheir arcuata
Native to Northern California, first described in 1994. Brown to black with reddish-grey legs.

Selenocheir sinuata
This species of flat-backed millipede is endemic to Northern California, and black and red striping on its body.

Sigmocheir calaveras
Endemic to California's Sierra Nevada foothills, this species is yellow and brown-black.

Sigmocheir furcata
Endemic to California's Sierra Nevada foothills, this species is yellow and brown-black. Legs are grey-brown.

Thrinaphe hargeri
Native to the Cascade Mountains, this species is uniformly brown with a bluish tinge.

Thrinaxoria lampra
Flat-backed millipede that is typically light brown in color with dark brown bands. Found in North America.

Underwoodia iuloides
Native to North America.

Xystocheir brachymacris
This species of flat-backed millipede is native to North America.

Xystocheir dissecta
This flat-backed millipede species is found in North America, and can emit hydrogen cyanide if threatened.

Millipedes in the garden

Millipedes are found in many different habitats, including forests, deserts (to a small extent), grasslands, and agricultural areas, where they prefer to frequent moist areas. They typically hang out around debris and leaf litter piles, dead plant material, and decaying wood. They are beneficial arthropods, playing an important role in breaking down plant material and organic matter in soil. This activity improves soil tilth and nutrition, which promotes better plant growth. They also help to control the populations of garden pest insects, such as mites and aphids.

Offer Places to Hide
Millipedes generally appreciate moist, dark environments, and love hiding in places like under mulch, in compost bins, under rocks, or around the bases of logs and other natural litter. Make sure to leave the leaves and allow decaying wood to stick around; the millipedes in your garden will thank you.

Cut Out Pesticide Use
Pesticides hurt not just the pests targeted; they typically also affect the populations of beneficial insects and related organisms, as well, including centipedes. Encouraging predator species to enter the garden is the best way to control pest populations. Once there are high enough population numbers of these species, they will take care of your pest problem without you having to even ask.

Keep it Moist
Millipedes can have issues with water loss, and if they do not have access to moisture, their bodies will dry out and they will die. Keeping certain areas of the landscape moist is key to the health of millipede populations in the garden. Water plants regularly, and avoid letting soil dry out completely. Adding a layer of organic mulch also goes a long way in soil moisture retention, and also allows millipedes to have places to take shelter from drying sun rays, wind, and predators.

Keep Soil Healthy
Healthy soil is one of the most basic things that gardeners can offer beneficials in home landscapes. Many soils in urban areas are dead, and do not contain any living ecosystems. Healthy soil can be built in as little as 2-3 years, and is the foundation of all biodiversity in the landscape. Keep soil well-drained and nutrient-rich to maintain its health.

Keep the Buffet Open
Let leaves, sticks, flowers, and rotted fruits stay in the garden; resist the urge to clean it all up. Providing millipedes with enough of their favorite foods will encourage populations to grow, and provide you free pest control as a bonus.

Cool it Down
Millipedes enjoy environments that stay more on the cool side, and are most active in lower temperature ranges. Try to create shady, cool areas in the landscape for millipedes to inhabit and procreate.