Most Millipedes Are Scavengers

Millipedes frighten many people. They have long, slender bodies. Some species of millipedes can reach almost 115 mm in length. Even when they are curled up, many people think they look scary. Millipedes have lots of legs—so many that people call them “thousand-leggers” In fact almost every segment of the millipede’s body has two pairs of legs.

Millipedes prefer to live outdoors. They need a lot of moisture, so they tend to live in damp areas. Around the yard, millipedes will be found in gardens and flowerbeds. They live under mulch, under dead leaves, or even under piles of grass clippings. In well-established lawns, millipedes can also live in the layer of thatch between the grass and the soil.

In their natural habitat, most millipedes are scavengers. They eat damp or decaying wood particles. They also eat decaying leaves and other plant material. If their habitat starts to dry out, millipedes will attack living plants. They can get moisture from the green leaves and soft roots.

As millipedes grow, they shed their skin several times. After each molt, they eat the cast-off skins. Some scientists think this helps them replace lost calcium. Sometimes millipedes also feed on small insects, earthworms, and snails.