# Greenhouse Millipede (*oxidus gracilis*) The Greenhouse Millipede (Oxidus gracilis), also known as the hothouse millipede, is a small, highly successful arthropod that has spread from its native Asian range to greenhouses, gardens, and urban environments worldwide. Primarily active in damp, dark microhabitats, this species plays an essential ecological role as a detritivore. By consuming decaying organic matter, leaf litter, and compost, it accelerates the decomposition process, returning vital nutrients back into the soil. Though often considered a minor pest when they aggregate in large numbers inside greenhouses or damp basements, greenhouse millipedes are completely harmless to humans and pets, lacking any bite or sting. Instead, they rely on chemical defenses and their cryptic lifestyle to survive, making them fascinating, ancient recyclers of the soil. - **Category:** [Animal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/animal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Typically found in moist soil, leaf litter, compost piles, and under rocks or rotting wood in greenhouses, gardens, and urban landscapes. ![Greenhouse Millipede](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/45321/medium.jpg) Photo: João Coelho, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/45321) ## Appearance The Greenhouse Millipede is a small, elongated arthropod measuring between 1.5 and 2.5 cm in length, with a distinctively segmented, deep brown to almost black body. Its sides are marked by cream or pale yellow-colored keels on each segment, giving it a somewhat bumpy or textured appearance along its lateral margins. Like all polydesmid millipedes, it has a noticeably flattened body shape compared to cylindrical species, and it lacks eyes, relying instead on its antennae to navigate. Each of its double-legged body segments features pale, yellowish-white legs that move in a smooth, wave-like coordination. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Diplopoda - **Order:** Polydesmida - **Family:** Paradoxosomatidae - **Genus:** Oxidus ## Interesting facts - Despite their common name 'millipede' (meaning ten thousand legs), the greenhouse millipede only has around 30 to 31 pairs of legs, totaling about 60 to 62 legs. - Greenhouse millipedes are completely blind; they navigate their dark underground world entirely using their sensitive antennae and touch receptors. - When alarmed, they emit an odor resembling marzipan or almonds, which is caused by defensive secretions of hydrogen cyanide gas. ## Special abilities - **Hydrogen Cyanide Defense:** When threatened, the greenhouse millipede secretes a defensive fluid containing hydrogen cyanide, which deters predators with its toxic properties and distinct almond-like odor. - **Metameric Locomotion:** Utilizes highly coordinated, wave-like movements of its dozens of legs to push through tightly packed soil and leaf litter with efficient leverage. - **Moisture seeking instinct:** Exhibits highly sensitive hygroreceptors on its antennae to locate and stay within highly humid microclimates, preventing rapid desiccation. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 1+ cm - **Weight:** 0.0001+ kg - **Lifespan:** 1+ years - **Clutch Size:** 40+ - **Incubation:** 10+ days ## Diet & Feeding Feeds almost exclusively on decomposing plant material, rotting wood, and fungal mycelium, breaking down complex organic compounds into nutrient-rich soil. - **Primary Foods:** Decaying leaf litter, Rotting wood, Fungi, Compost, Soft decaying roots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-toad) (*Anaxyrus americanus*) — The toad opportunistically feeds on small millipedes when searching the forest floor or gardens at night. - **Eaten by:** Bronze Ground Beetle (*Carabus nemoralis*) — An active predator of soil invertebrates, this beetle frequently hunts greenhouse millipedes in gardens and parks. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Greenhouse Millipede? Start with body shape, legs or fins, fur, feathers or scales, and standout markings. Then weigh size, habitat and where you saw it. Young animals and seasonal coats can look very different from familiar adults. Animal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Greenhouse Millipede? 1+ cm ### How much does Greenhouse Millipede weigh? 0.0001+ kg ### How long does Greenhouse Millipede live? 1+ years ### What does Greenhouse Millipede eat? Feeds almost exclusively on decomposing plant material, rotting wood, and fungal mycelium, breaking down complex organic compounds into nutrient-rich soil. ### Where is Greenhouse Millipede usually found? Typically found in moist soil, leaf litter, compost piles, and under rocks or rotting wood in greenhouses, gardens, and urban landscapes. ### How does Greenhouse Millipede hunt? Foraging ### How many eggs does Greenhouse Millipede lay? 40+ ## Where to spot - [American Baptist College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-baptist-college) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackhand-gorge-state-nature-preserve) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve - [Centennial Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Fort Caroline](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-caroline) — Florida, US · National Park [View all places to see Greenhouse Millipede](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/greenhouse-millipede) ## More Animal - [Coquina](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coquina) (*Gymnoscelis coquina*) - [Crystal Jelly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crystal-jelly) (*Aequorea forskalea Péron &*) - [Nautilus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nautilus) (*Nautilus*) - [Sea Anemone](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-anemone) (*unclassified Amphianthus (in: sea anemones)*) --- Source: [Greenhouse Millipede: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greenhouse-millipede)