Millipedes are common under rocks and in soil. They hide in dark moist places. Millipedes move at a very slow pace and most species feed on decaying plant material. Millipedes do not have venomous stingers or fangs but some of them can secrete a bad smelling and bad-tasting chemical from the pores in the sides of their bodies. These chemicals help keep many predators away.

Millipedes are long, multi-segmented arthropods. Millipedes have two legs per body segment. Millipedes shed their skin as they grow, usually adding legs each time they molt.