As you are doing some chores around the house, you’re suddenly startled by elongated creatures with countless legs. No, this isn’t a scene from a horror movie. You’ve likely stumbled upon another creepy crawling bug leading you to ask the question, “Why are there millipedes in my house and where are they coming from?”

Are These Millipedes in My House?

You’re not the first if you’ve dealt with these wandering “thousand leggers” around your place. They and some of their relatives have been on the earth for nearly 400 million years. Scientists believe they may be some of the earliest creatures that moved from water to land.

While it’s a common mistake to call just any minor creepers “bugs” or “insects”, millipedes are neither one. Insects and millipedes are arthropods, the largest phylum in the world, with millipedes being more closely related to centipedes, lice, and ticks.

Out of the approximately 7,000 millipede species, at least 1,400 live in the United States and Canada, and many of these species call the Garden State Home. You’re bound to have seen millipedes in your house at one point or another.

How Millipedes in Your House Look

Millipedes in your house are easy to identify by their segmented, wormlike bodies and plethora of legs that give them their name. Depending on the species, they can be anywhere from one-sixteenth to two inches long. Fortunately, you won’t encounter the African species that can grow nearly 14 inches long. Imagine finding that in your basement.

• Millipedes Coloring

These “1,000 leggers” blend well with the surrounding dirt, rock, and foliage. They come in various earthy colors, ranging from brown to black and even a dull gray. A few species have bright colors depending on where they live.

• Millipedes Eyes

You’re not apt to see a millipede’s eyes unless you look at it under a magnifying glass. They have several simple eyes called ocelli on the front and sides of their short, round heads. Their ocelli can only detect light and dark, while some species are blind.

• Millipedes Antenna

Their primary navigation source is their antenna that is perpetually tapping in front of them. These creepy crawlers keep their antenna meticulously clean with tiny brushes on their front legs. Millipedes also have sensory organs behind their antenna that may sense temperature and humidity.

• Millipedes Mouth

Unlike their 100-leg cousins, the centipede, 1,000 leggers can neither bite nor sting. They have a small, simple mouth opening called a maxilla on the tip of their head. The mouth has elementary jaws that just serve as an opening for food.

The Great 1,000 Leg Myth

Like many people, you might get an immediate sense of repulsion when millipedes in your house scurry across your floor. Something about the wiggly, wormy body and all those legs makes people squeamish. No wonder early scientists called them millipede, meaning 1,000 legs.

Unless you get close enough to count, it may seem like these creatures have an endless supply of legs. However, the 1,000 legs are an ancient generalization that turned into a common myth. It’s the same story with their notoriously nasty cousin, the centipede.

Each section of the millipede’s body has two pairs of short, hair-like legs. In reality, most species only have somewhere between 40 to 400 legs. However, one rarer species has been noted to have 750 legs, but not 1,000.

Perhaps you’ve observed millipedes in your house or the New Jersey outdoors. You’ll notice that their multiple legs oscillate or move in a wave-like formation. They usually can’t move very quickly, but their legs get them where they want to go.

Habits of Millipedes in Your House

Habitat

Wherever you travel in the world, you’ll encounter these leggy creatures. Millipedes live on every continent except Antarctica, and they have survived as an organism for millions of years. They are quite at home anywhere soil and decaying matter are found.

They prefer a habitat that’s dark, cool, and damp. One thousand leggers are agile burrowers and often stay hidden in dirt or piles of decaying plant matter. You can find them in your garden, in brushy areas, under rocks, or around your home’s foundation.

Diet

These wormlike arthropods are omnivores, meaning these millipedes in your house will eat meat or plants. In general, their favorite treat is decaying leaves and other plant matter. They’re a valuable part of recycling nutrients back into the soil.

But when plant matter is scarce, millipedes are fine with munching on dead insects and even larger decaying animals. They’ll dine on the occasional slug or earthworm. Although they won’t eat most processed human food, they will munch on fruit and vegetables.

Behavior

While you can often move rocks and see many millipedes scurrying away, they aren’t social. One thousand leggers are loners, and they’re most active at night. The slightest glimpse of light sends them running for cover.

In general, millipedes are shy and docile creatures. Their countless legs aren’t speedy, and they can’t sting or bite. So, their primary strategy for protection is to roll up into a ball.

Life Cycle of Millipede

You’re most likely to see more millipedes in your house during the warm months of June through September. A few weeks after the mating process, the females will find a safe place to lay their eggs. The mothers will deposit up to 300 eggs in the soil.