We recently heard about some black or dark brown creatures that one of our readers discovered on her kitchen floor. She wrote “they look like the letter C, with a lot of tiny legs.” Any of our readers who follow our page closely will likely be able to identify this specimen by the description alone.

If you guessed millipede, you are right! Our reader has been finding millipedes on her kitchen floor. Not only was the picture very helpful, but the description she provided fits millipedes very well. Millipedes are segmented creature, with two pairs of legs per segment. They sometimes curl up into a C-shape, which is how our reader noted seeing them.

Our reader requested that we identify these creatures and help her get rid of them. Millipedes are scavengers, and in their normal habitat of moist soil they eat leaf litter and decaying organic material. However, if they are desperate, they might resort to eating fresh plants. If our reader has a bunch of plants in her kitchen, the millipedes might be attracted to those. However, millipedes like dark, damp environments, and they usually aren’t comfortable inside a house. They are probably ending up in the house by accident, perhaps wandering in by means of an open window or unsealed doorway. Our reader should be mindful about keeping the screens shut when her windows are open. In addition, she should make sure that all the doors and entryways of her house are properly sealed, especially in the basement. Once she figures out how the millipedes are getting in and closes that entryway, she shouldn’t have any more issues. In the meantime, she should simply place these millipedes outside where they will be happier. Remember, their C-shape is a defense mechanism, so they must be frightened!

In conclusion, a reader asked us to identify some critters she located in her kitchen. These are millipedes, and they are harmless and enjoy an outdoor environment!

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