Flat-backed millipede

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

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

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

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.