Yellow-spotted Millipede

Natural Habitat

Moist forest floors, leaf litter, and under rocks or logs, primarily in the Pacific Northwest of North America.

Diet & Feeding

Detritivore; feeds on decaying organic matter and leaf litter, playing a vital role in nutrient cycling.

Behavior Patterns

Slow-moving and nocturnal. When threatened, they curl into a spiral and can secrete hydrogen cyanide as a chemical defense.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem by decomposing organic material. Risks to humans are low, though the defensive secretions can cause skin or eye irritation and should not be ingested.

Identified on: 5/22/2026