How to Identify a Desert Millipede

The Desert Millipede is the common name for any species in the orthoporus genus, although it is also known by other common names. This name most often refers to Orthoporus ornatus. The Desert Millipede is easy to care for and make a popular addition to any arthropod collection. The following steps will help you identify this millipede.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Consider the location when identifying the Desert Millipede. This species has a wide color variation that is determined by its specific location.
2. Expect most Desert Millipedes to be some shade of brown. However, they can range from a dark yellow to nearly black and some individuals have black stripes against a lighter background.
3. Check the length of your adult Desert Millipede. This is a relatively long species and can grow to 7 inches, although 5 inches is the average. Like most millipedes, it has two pairs of legs on each body segment.
4. Look for any damp areas to find Desert Millipedes. Although it is a desert species, it will actively burrow to find moisture and protect itself from the sun, coming out only at night or after it rains. This species is docile and not regarded as dangerous to humans.
5. Wait for a rainfall to find Desert Millipedes in great numbers. You will rarely see them at any other time, although they are common throughout west Texas, southern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. They can live in the desert as well as grasslands in the higher elevations.

Tips & Warnings

• All millipedes can secrete an irritating and corrosive liquid when threatened, and it should be washed out immediately upon contact with the skin, eyes or mouth. Generally, it is merely irritating and painful rather than dangerous, but some individuals may be especially sensitive to it.