{"id":4401,"date":"2011-01-27T09:15:49","date_gmt":"2011-01-27T14:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/ipm\/"},"modified":"2025-04-17T17:19:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T21:19:35","slug":"5029e","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/ipm\/ipddl\/publications\/5029e\/","title":{"rendered":"Millipedes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n \n \"Print\n <\/a>\n <\/div><\/h3>\n

Pest Management Fact Sheet #5029<\/h3>\n

James F. Dill, Pest Management Specialist
\nClay A. Kirby, Insect Diagnostician<\/em><\/p>\n

For information about UMaine Extension programs and resources, visit extension.umaine.edu<\/a>.
\nFind more of our publications and books at extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/<\/a>.<\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Description & Biology<\/h3>\n

Millipedes usually go unnoticed in the summer because of their nocturnal habits and tendency to disperse. The common species are found in dark, damp, and cool places. They feed almost entirely on decomposing organic matter, which would seem to make them beneficial to the environment. However, for many people, they can become a nuisance in and around homes.<\/p>\n

Maine\u2019s common millipedes (which are diplopods, not insects) are up to 3\/16″ thick and up to 1\u00bc” long. The body of a millipede has many segments, with two pairs of legs on each segment.<\/p>\n\n\t\t