Millipedes or Centipedes?

Millipedes and centipedes are common pests that homeowners encounter all over the country.  They’re closely related and often confused for one another. Both pests are arthropods which mean they are inverebrates – having an external skeleton, a segmented body, and jointed appendages.  Although they share similarities, they do have some major differences.

Millipedes
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• Elongated, rounded body
• Usually seen in large numbers
• Have more legs than centipedes, with 2 pairs of legs per body segment
• Move slower than centipedes
• Diet consists of plant material

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Centipedes

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• Elongated, flattened body
• 14 or more body segments
• 1 pair of legs per body segment
• Have forcipules (modifications on the first pair of legs that form pincer-like appendages) that aren’t found on any other arthropods
• Diet consists of insects, spiders, birds, & reptiles

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Pest Control for Millipedes & Centipedes