Greenhouse Millipede
Scientific Name: Oxidus gracilis
Order & Family: Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae
Size: 18 to 23 mm (0.7 to 0.9 inches) in length
Natural Habitat
Moist areas under rocks, leaf litter, and in gardens or greenhouses
Diet & Feeding
Decaying organic matter and occasionally young plants or seedlings
Behavior Patterns
Nighttime foragers that can secrete a cyanogenic fluid as a defense mechanism; they often congregate in large numbers
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans though they may emit a foul odor; beneficial as decomposers but can occasionally become garden pests
Identified on: 6/26/2026