“I found this worm-like thing in my daughter’s bathroom”, writes Bryan about the light brown creature pictured below. “This is the second one we found in a week. It has legs, so it’s not a “worm”, but I’m trying to figure out how they are getting into her bathroom. Can you identify it?” Firstly, we want to thank Bryan for the excellent photo he sent in: the clarity of the photo allows us to see the tiny legs he is talking about, as well as antennae sprouting from its head. Secondly, we can definitely identify this creature. It turns out that Bryan has found himself a millipede.

Millipedes evoke disgust in a lot of people, unfortunately. Understandably, creatures with multiple legs are not that popular. People find them creepy or gross, rather than cute. Personally, we find millipedes adorable, and their peaceful nature and contribution to the environment only adds to their charm. Unlike their cousin the centipede, who also sprouts multiple legs (though they grow from the sides of their bodies, while millipedes’ grow on the underside) but who are far more volatile, millipedes are quite tranquil creatures. They don’t scurry around, but will take their time walking about, looking for some organic debris to munch on.

The most harm millipedes can do to people is to secrete a toxin which can cause some irritation of the skin, but they only do this when they feel threatened, as a defense mechanism. They are not aggressive creatures, and they do not bite, sting, or infect people. Likewise, they do not spread diseases or pathogens. So, Bryan does not need to worry about his daughter. The millipede likely got into her bathroom either via a vent (vent screens can be installed to prevent future invasions), the pipes (there could be a leak in the pipes underground, which a professional would have to fix), or simply through an open door in the home. Millipedes prefer damp and cool environments, so the more Bryan can keep his home warm and dry, the less millipedes are likely to enter his home.

In conclusion, the creatures he found in his daughter’s bathroom are millipedes. They are not to be feared and we do not recommend killing them, as they are friends of the environment! We recommend just moving this one outside. We hope this helps, and we wish Bryan, as well as his daughter, the very best!

Summary

Article Name

Light Brown Worm With Many Legs in Bathroom is a Millipede

Description

"I found this worm-like thing in my daughter’s bathroom", writes Bryan about the light brown creature pictured below. "This is the second one we found in a week. It has legs, so it’s not a “worm”, but I’m trying to figure out how they are getting into her bathroom. Can you identify it?" Firstly, we want to thank Bryan for the excellent photo he sent in: the clarity of the photo allows us to see the tiny legs he is talking about, as well as antennae sprouting from its head. Secondly, we can definitely identify this creature. It turns out that Bryan has found himself a millipede.

Author

Worm Researcher Anton