Yellow-spotted millipede
Scientific Name: Harpaphe haydeniana
Order & Family: Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae
Size: 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2 in) in length
Natural Habitat
Moist forest floors with abundant leaf litter and decaying wood, primarily along the Pacific coast of North America.
Diet & Feeding
Detritivorous; primarily feeds on decaying leaf litter and organic matter, assisting in nutrient cycling.
Behavior Patterns
Slow-moving and nocturnal; when threatened, it curls into a spiral and can exude a almond-scented cyanide-based chemical as a defense mechanism.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem by decomposing organic matter; the defensive toxins can cause skin or eye irritation to humans and are toxic if ingested.
Identified on: 6/5/2026