While millipedes sometimes enter in large numbers, they do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases, nor do they infest food, clothing or wood.
Millipedes vary in both color and size.
They crawl slowly and protect themselves by secreting cyanide-like compound that has an unpleasant odor . Some people confuse millipedes with centipedes, which look somewhat similar, but have only one pair of legs per body segment and tend to be faster moving. Life Cycle and Habits Millipedes overwinter primarily as adults and lay their eggs in the soil. Individuals may live for several years. Millipedes are attracted to dark, cool, moist environments, including compost piles, heavily mulched shrub or flower beds, or under logs and stones.