Millipede vs Centipede Checker

Legs, speed, and body shape to separate millipedes from centipedes.

Educational tool only — not medical, pest-control, or safety advice. When unsure, observe from a distance and photograph rather than handle.

Millipede

Cylindrical, slower movers with two pairs of legs on most body segments. Often found in damp leaf litter.

  • Rounded, worm-like body
  • Two pairs of legs per segment (looks like a dense “brush” of legs)
  • Usually slow; may coil when disturbed

Centipede

Flatter, faster hunters with one pair of legs per segment. Often dart under stones or baseboards.

  • Flattened body
  • One pair of legs per segment
  • Quick, stop-start movement
1. How do the legs look along the body?
2. How does it move?
3. Body shape?

Educational ID practice. Some distant photos make leg counts hard — get a sharp top-down shot when safe.

FAQ

Do millipedes and centipedes both have lots of legs?
Yes, but millipedes usually have two pairs of legs per body segment and move slowly, while centipedes have one pair per segment and are quicker hunters.

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More precise IDs are on the way

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