How Harmful are Centipedes and Millipedes in Colorado?

Colorado is home to innumerable types of wildlife, including some that are considered creepy crawlers by some.

While some of these creepy crawlers like rattlesnakes and scorpions are dangerous, some of these creatures appear much scarier than they actually are.

Colorado's Native Centipedes and Millipedes

If you've lived in Colorado for long enough, there's a good chance you've encountered some kind of invertebrate with a whole lot of legs. While centipedes and millipedes may look intimidating or just plain creepy, they don't pose much of a threat to humans.

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The common centipede found in Colorado is known by entomologists as Lithobius forficatus. These creatures have a somewhat flat body with two legs per body section and while they can reach up to six inches in length, they tend to avoid human interaction and even when feeling threatened, are unable to pierce human skin in the rare chance that one actually attempts to bite.

Millipedes are similar in appearance but while centipedes have a flat body, millipedes are more round and typically have two pairs of legs per body section.

The most common species of millipede found in Colorado, the Allajulus londenensis, poses even less of a threat to humans. These creatures only reach a length of about 1.5 inches and are not known to bite at all.

Another, more rare species of millipede that calls Colorado home is known as the Duff Millipede. Known in the scientific community as Polyxenus sp. latreille, this creepy crawler resembles a hairy caterpillar from a distance but like the common millipede, is harmless to humans as well.