Millipedes, sometimes termed thousand-legged worms, have two pairs of legs on each body segment except the first few and the last. They are widely distributed in temperate and warmer regions, living in surface litter, under stones or logs, and in relatively humid surroundings. They feed mostly on decaying vegetation, although some will consume decaying animal food.
Some species attack plant roots and cause crop damage.
The millipede body is nearly circular in cross section, with two pairs of legs on most segments. In contrast, centipedes , with which millipedes are often confused, are carnivorous, have a single pair of legs on each segment, and a body that is flat in cross section. Millipedes belong to the phylum Arthropoda , class Diplopoda.