A: I believe you are describing small, one inch millipedes. You may find the garden millipede in large numbers, they do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases, nor do they infest food, clothing or dry, structurally sound wood. Millipedes can vary in both color and size with the most common species being the “garden millipede”, which are brownish-black in color and about one inch long.

Millipedes are scavengers, feeding primarily on decomposing vegetation, but occasionally they will damage soft-stemmed plants in gardens. Major nuisance problems usually occur when the conditions become too hot and dry and the millipedes move to find moisture, or else when it’s too wet and water-saturated soils force them to the surface and higher ground where they often end up on concrete slabs, foundations and siding. With all the rain we have been getting lately, it is no wonder you have been finding so many crawling across the sidewalks and driveways. Since they are outside, we do not recommend any type of chemical treatment.

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