Flat-backed millipede

Scientific Name: Polydesmida

Order & Family: Order Polydesmida, family varies (e.g., Paradoxosomatidae or Polydesmidae)

Size: 10 mm to 50 mm (0.4 to 2 inches) depending on species

Flat-backed millipede

Natural Habitat

Moist leaf litter, organic garden soil, under rocks or rotting logs

Diet & Feeding

Detritivore; feeds on decaying organic matter, leaf litter, and occasionally young plant shoots

Behavior Patterns

Night-active scavengers that move relatively slowly; they lack eyes and use antennae to navigate. They often curl into a spiral when threatened.

Risks & Benefits

Beneficial to ecosystems as decomposers that enrich soil; however, many species can secrete a defensive liquid (cyanogenic compounds) that may irritate skin or eyes if handled.

Identified on: 6/3/2026