
Community identification
Yellow-spotted Millipede
Harpaphe haydeniana
- Order & Family
- Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 centimeters (1.6 to 2 inches) in length.
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.