Millipedes and centipedes are both common pests that can be found in homes across the US. Both pests are arthropods which mean they are inverebrates – having an external skeleton, a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Although these pests look similar and are oftentimes confused, they do have some major differences.
Centipede
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Centipedes tend to occur in lower numbers than millipedes
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14 or more segments
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Centipedeshave forcipules (modifications on the first pair of legs that form pincer-like appendages) are found on no other arthropods.
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Considered carnivorous compared to the millipede
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Have 1 pair of legs per body segment
Millipede
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Millipedes have more legs than the centipede
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Millipedes move slower than the centipede (probably because they have more legs)
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Millipedes have 2 pair of legs per body segment
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Millipedes are known for their mass migration
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Plant eaters
For more information on Centipedes and Millipedes, visit our Pest Library!