They curl up tightly when disturbed. They are different in that they have flattened bodies, a pair of long, slender antennae, a pair of claws just behind the head, and at least 15 pairs of legs, with only one pair on most body segments. They also move more rapidly than millipedes. They adhere in clusters due to the presence of a sticky secretion. Centipede eggs are similar.
Additional legs appear after each molt.
Millipedes tend to live in dark, damp places, whereas centipedes usually inhabit places where they can forage for insects. Most of the pests encountered are millipedes, particularly the greenhouse millipede. Centipedes, on the other hand, prey on insects and spiders. Millipedes occasionally feed on vegetation. Some species also exude a venom that blisters the skin and others emit an offensive odor.