Millipede

Actual Size: ½ to 6 ½ inches

Characteristics: Brownish, elongated, and cylindrical

Legs: Elongated, cylindrical arthropods with many body segments, and most segments bear two pairs of short legs. They are typically dark brown or black and move slowly, with a rounded body that often curls into a spiral when disturbed.

Antennae: Yes

Wings: No

Habitat: Commonly found in moist environments such as under leaf litter, logs, stones, and in rich soil where organic matter is abundant. They often enter homes during periods of heavy rain or dry conditions, seeking damp areas.

Habits:

Need a moist environment to survive.
Stay hidden during the day and are active at night.
Survive indoors only briefly, for a few days at most.

Millipedes in Athens, GA

Sometimes referred to as “thousand leggers,” millipedes are household pests. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are generally harmless to people and play a role in breaking down organic material outdoors. They normally live outside, feeding on damp and decaying wood, vegetable matter, and tender roots and leaves on the ground. Many species defend themselves using glands that release an unpleasant odor when disturbed. Millipedes are found throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as in Puerto Rico.

Millipede Habitat

Millipedes are scavengers in nature and primarily consume decaying organic matter. They help recycle nutrients back into the soil through decomposition. While they may occasionally feed on young plants, the resulting damage is rarely significant. Because they require high moisture, millipedes usually remain hidden under objects during daylight hours. At night, they emerge and can be seen moving across sidewalks, patios, and building foundations. In the fall, they may enter structures in large numbers during seasonal migrations.

Millipede Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Although millipedes can enter homes in large numbers, they are harmless in that they do not bite, sting, or spread disease, and they do not damage food, clothing, or wood. They are considered a nuisance pest when they show up indoors, often in crawl spaces, damp basements, or ground-level floors. Because of their high moisture needs, they rarely survive indoors beyond a few days unless conditions remain very damp. When they are seen frequently inside, it often means large outdoor populations are breeding in mulch, leaf litter, lawns, or debris near the foundation. If millipedes are becoming a problem on your Athens, GA property, contact your local exterminators.