Millipede fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC

What are millipedes?

Millipedes are many-legged invertebrates in a group called myriapods. They are not insects. Like other arthropods, millipedes have a hard outer skeleton, jointed legs and a segmented body.

Millipedes belong to the class Diplopoda. Most body rings have two pairs of legs. This helps separate them from centipedes, which usually have one pair of legs on each body segment.

The name millipede means “thousand feet”, but most millipedes have far fewer than 1000 legs. Millipedes are usually slow-moving animals that live in moist places such as leaf litter, soil, under logs and beneath bark.

A millipede.

Black red-legged millipede crawling on rough tree bark in Sydney.

Where do millipedes live?

Millipedes live in damp, sheltered habitats where their bodies are less likely to dry out. They are often found in leaf litter, loose soil, under logs, under rocks, beneath bark and in composting plant material.

In bushland such as Field of Mars Reserve, millipedes live on the forest floor. Leaf litter, fallen bark and rotting wood provide food, shelter and protection from hot, dry conditions.

Millipedes can also be found in gardens, parks, school grounds and backyards, especially where there is shade, moisture and decaying plant material.

Millipedes shelter in damp places such as bark, leaf litter, rocks and logs.

What do millipedes eat?

Most millipedes are decomposers. They feed on dead leaves, rotting wood, fungi and other decaying plant material.

As millipedes feed, they break larger pieces of plant material into smaller pieces. This helps fungi, bacteria and other decomposers recycle nutrients into the soil.

Some millipedes may also nibble soft parts of living plants, especially seedlings or decaying plant tissues.

Leaf litter provides food and shelter for decomposers such as millipedes.

What is the life cycle of a millipede?

Millipedes start life as eggs laid in soil, leaf litter or another moist, protected place.

Young millipedes hatch with only a small number of body rings and legs. They do not have as many legs as an adult millipede.

As millipedes grow, they moult by shedding their old exoskeleton. After each moult, the new exoskeleton hardens. Many millipedes add more body rings and legs as they grow.

Some millipedes can live for several years, but lifespan varies between species.

A young millipede has fewer body rings and legs than an adult.

What adaptations do millipedes have to help them survive?

Millipedes have adaptations that help them survive in leaf litter, soil and other dark, moist habitats. Their tough exoskeleton helps protect their soft body, while their many legs help them crawl steadily through narrow spaces.

Many millipedes curl into a tight coil when they are disturbed. This protects the softer underside of the body and keeps the head and legs tucked away from predators.

Some millipedes have small openings called ozopores along the sides of their body. These openings can release defensive chemicals. These chemicals help protect millipedes from predators, but people should avoid handling millipedes and wash their hands if they touch one.

A millipede found in Western Australia, Eumillipes persephone, has more legs than any other known animal. One female had 1306 legs. Most millipedes have far fewer legs than this.

A female Eumillipes persephone from Western Australia had 1,306 legs, the highest number recorded for any animal.

Why are millipedes important?

Millipedes are important decomposers. They help break down dead leaves, rotting wood and other plant material on the forest floor.

This recycling returns nutrients to the soil, where they can be used again by plants. In healthy bushland, leaf litter and fallen wood are not waste. They are habitat and food for many small animals.

Millipedes are also part of the food web. They may be eaten by birds, reptiles, amphibians, spiders and other invertebrates.

Millipedes help recycle dead plant material in leaf litter and soil.

How can you help millipedes?

You can help millipedes by protecting the damp, sheltered habitats they need. Leave leaf litter, fallen bark and logs in garden or bushland areas where it is safe to do so.

Avoid unnecessary pesticide use, especially around soil, leaf litter and garden beds. Pesticides can harm millipedes and other small animals that help keep ecosystems healthy.

If you lift a log, rock or piece of bark to look for invertebrates, place it back carefully in the same position. This helps protect the tiny habitat underneath.

Fallen logs and leaf litter provide shelter for millipedes and other small invertebrates.

Related fact sheets

More invertebrate fact sheets

• Invertebrate fact sheets – Explore more animals without backbones that live in bushland, soil, leaf litter, water and gardens.
• Myriapods fact sheet – Learn about the many-legged invertebrate group that includes millipedes and centipedes.
• Centipede fact sheet – Compare millipedes with fast-moving myriapod predators that live in leaf litter and under logs.

Habitats and ecosystems

• Leaf litter habitats fact sheet – Discover the damp leaf-litter layer where millipedes feed, shelter and recycle nutrients.
• Rock and log habitats fact sheet – Learn how logs, rocks and bark create cool, sheltered places for small invertebrates.
• Ground cover habitats fact sheet – Explore the low plant layer and nearby leaf litter that shelter small animals.
• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet – Learn about the local bushland habitats that support millipedes and other decomposers.

Animals that share this habitat

• Crustaceans fact sheet – Learn about slaters, pill bugs and other crustaceans that can live in damp places.
• Gastropods fact sheet – Learn about slugs and snails that also need moist habitats.
• Annelids fact sheet – Explore segmented worms, including earthworms that help break down organic matter and improve soil.

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