We just heard from a reader who consistently finds some “worms” covering her outdoor paths and doorsteps after it rains. She said they sometimes manage to get inside her house, but they don’t survive long inside. She wonders what these creatures are.

Here are the photos she sent us:

The creatures are brown, have a black head, and are segmented. We believe these are millipedes! While they appear shinier than some millipedes, we believe this is actually just water that is causing them to glisten. Also, we usually identify millipedes by their legs, but these millipedes could have tucked their legs up into their bodies.

Millipedes live in dark, damp places, and often find a home in moist soil. When it rains, the soil becomes too saturated and they must vacate it. That is why they appear so suddenly after rainstorms. Also, since millipedes need moisture to survive, they can’t survive inside a house that is bright and dry, They probably got in through an open door or window.

To sum up, a reader asked what kind of worm she was finding around the outside of her home after rain storms. We believe these are millipedes.