Millipedes look harmless from afar, but if you knew that centipedes could bite you, you wouldn’t be so dismissive of them. So, do millipedes bite too? If so, how and is it harmful? Let’s find out.
Is the sudden influx of millipedes in your home scaring you? Finding any new creepy crawlies in your home can indeed be a concern if you aren’t aware of whether they pose a threat.
Well, you’ve come to the right place looking for the information – this article will give you a thorough understanding of whether you should be wary of millipedes.
In case you were wondering about whether millipedes bite humans, rest assured that they aren’t capable of doing so.
Can Millipedes Bite?
Millipedes have developed mouthparts complete with teeth and mandibles.
This, together with the fact that they are capable of chewing and cutting their food, can make you think that they might bite too.
However, a millipede cannot bite you – their mouths simply aren’t suited for the action. A millipede’s mouthparts are small and weak.
However, millipedes do have a defense mechanism against predators. As you might be aware, they can curl up into a tight spiral when threatened.
Some millipede species also emit toxins in self-defense. These toxins are harmful to small predators like spiders, ants, and other insects.
Do Millipedes Sting?
If you have suffered a bee sting in the past, you might be scared of getting stung by a millipede as well.
Centipedes are infamous for their painful stings, and this might make one fear that millipedes can do the same.
However, unlike a centipede, millipedes do not have stingers. They are completely incapable of stinging.
Can Millipedes Hurt You?
While millipedes cannot bite or sting you, many species of millipedes excrete toxins when they feel threatened.
Some are even capable of spraying the toxins from up to around 2.6 feet. Millipede toxin contains several poisonous chemicals, such as:
- Benzoquinones
- Hydrogen cyanide
- Organic acids
- Hydrochloric acid
- Cresols
- Phenol
- Hydroquinones
On contact with sensitive skin, millipede toxin can cause blisters and skin irritation like burning or itching.
Getting it in your eyes can cause the eyes to redden and even lead to conjunctivitis. Other symptoms may include pain, tearing, corneal inflammation, eyelid spasms, etc.
Although it’s possible to go blind, too, that’s very rare.
Symptoms of Allergic Reaction to Millipedes
Potential allergic reactions are one of the key concerns when it comes to insect venom.
Millipede toxin usually causes only mild symptoms unless you get into your eyes and mouth.
However, if you are allergic to the toxins, the symptoms might be more severe. Allergic reactions that might occur from exposure to millipede toxins include rashes and blisters or hives.
In case you get blisters from handling a millipede, wash the affected area with regular soap and lukewarm water to remove the toxin.
Soothing topicals like hydrocortisone cream and over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl can help with itchy rashes.
What To Do if You Come in Contact With Millipede Toxin?
Regardless of whether you’re allergic to millipede toxins, don’t forget to wash your hands after handling millipedes. This can help you prevent rashes or burns.
Make sure not to eat anything with your hands or rub your eyes until you’ve washed your hands. As mentioned earlier, millipede toxin can be particularly problematic if you ingest it or somehow get it in your eyes.
Can Millipedes Kill You?
Don’t worry; while millipedes might look scary, they cannot kill you. Although their toxin can trigger allergic reactions and other symptoms, it’s not fatal to humans.
In fact, in one rare instance, the Bobo people of Burkina Faso actually consider millipedes as a delicacy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do millipedes bite you?
They don’t – millipedes aren’t capable of biting. If your skin burns or reddens after handling a millipede, it’s likely because the arthropod secreted a toxin.
If you still think it was a millipede bite, make sure you’re not mistaking a centipede for a millipede. The former can deliver painful bites.
What attracts millipedes in the house?
Millipedes usually live outdoors, among decaying plant matter like leaf litter. They need moist environments to survive, which is usually unavailable inside homes.
However, heavy rains and droughts can drive them to your home in search of a new habitat. Especially if you have a damp basement or a water leak somewhere in the house, it might attract them.
Which is worse, centipede or millipede?
Centipedes are slightly more dangerous than millipedes, as they’re capable of biting. A centipede bite can be quite painful.
Thankfully, they rarely attack humans unless handled and don’t deliver any venom through their bite. You can easily differentiate between the two, as centipedes have flat bodies.
Are millipedes OK to touch?
It’s best not to touch a millipede directly with your hands to avoid toxin exposure. You may wear gloves or use a suitable object to pick them up.
Although people often keep millipedes as pets and handle them directly, those are usually non-toxic species.
Wrap Up
Well, we hope this article has helped you get over your fears of suffering a painful insect sting from a millipede.
Keeping your lawn clean of dead leaves and other organic matter will help you avoid attracting them to your property.
Even if you find millipedes indoors, there’s no need to panic – just clean up your home and get rid of any excess moisture.
Thank you for reading!
9 Comments. Leave new
hi Folk!
I am not sure about the classification of this one as a millipede…
facts:
1) it likes wet areas
2) it like to be on a rotten wood
3) it is seen in groups
4) it is seen with young ones
5) there is no typical head with eyes of millipedes to see (second picture is helpful)
I would say we have here a species from the family of woodlouse.
what I am pretty sure we have here a species of the Isopoda order
I never seen isopoda of this size before but the anatomy is of this order.
isopodas are on all continets but anarctica.
I can 100% guarantee this is a platydesmid millipede and not an isopod. Isopods have a limited number of legs and do not come in this body style, among other separating features. This millipede displays a perfectly normal and expected appearance for one in the Platydesmida order. A simple internet search of the order will confirm that.
The gathering on trees appears to be normal for many platydesmid millipedes, as it’s seen in the US as well:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/437295957/
I saw these same millipedes in Nicaragua! http://picasaweb.google.com/joannarifkin/Nicaragua#5301312238782161010
Thanks so much for giving me a better idea what they are!
This is a millipede of order Callipodida. Looks like a species of genus Eurygyrus. There are 5 genera of Callipodida in Turkey, Eurygyrus is by the most common and species’ richest.
The specific odor might be due to the presence of para-cresol in the defensive secretions they produce. However, chemical components of callipodidans have been only marginally studied.
Thank you so much for this information.
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I was walking in the woods within my sisters and found the same thing, we didn’t know if it was poisonous either.
Hi karen, may i know what happen to your son after you found out that he puts it everything on his mouth (probably ate it?) i have this kind of situation too.