# What is this wormy thing I found in my house? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 23, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051 "2023-12-23T17:36:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/21 "2023-12-23T19:26:27Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Millipedes like the OP showed are real common here in SoFL. Weirdly, also incredibly common in the northern Black Hills in South Dakota too; one of my favorite critters growing up (along with roly-polies/pill bugs) because of that “imitate a cinnamon roll” response to danger! ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/22 "2023-12-23T19:28:25Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > My husband won’t let me get a Giant African Land Snail. I wonder if he would compromise for this. Update: He said no. Specifically, he said, “That’s gonna be a no, bro.” ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/23 "2023-12-23T19:39:46Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > That’s a bit unkind? What harm has it ever done to you? Dude, it looks like a rat turd. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/24 "2023-12-23T19:51:31Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Looks like it has money, so be nice to it. Goddammit, Burpo! 😆 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/25 "2023-12-23T19:55:44Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Just be glad it wasn’t a [Giant African Millipede.](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vY1aiNu09_c) Holy smokes! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/26 "2023-12-23T21:33:41Z")
Do you think it can be deep fried, like some folks do with tarantulas? ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/27 "2023-12-25T06:15:27Z")
I would imagine, probably tastes like fried mealworms (surprisingly edible!)… By which I mean, tastier than expected. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/28 "2023-12-25T06:21:03Z")
I’ll take your word for it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/29 "2023-12-25T12:13:55Z")
Millipedes produce cyanide and are not tasty. They are common in South Africa - not just the giant ones, but little black ones like in the OP are ubiquitous. I have dozens in my compost heap. They are harmless and cute. Locally we call them _shongololo_. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/30 "2023-12-25T12:30:42Z")
A’course your Giant African Millipedes are non-migra’ory. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/31 "2023-12-25T12:44:38Z")
Millipedes are herbivores and harmless. They are usually pretty slow. Centipedes are the predators, with bitey mouthparts you don’t want to get near. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/32 "2023-12-25T13:52:56Z")
So, they aren’t gripping jackfruit by the husk? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/33 "2023-12-25T16:10:19Z")
Are you suggesting that jackfruit migrate? (Man, talk about dumb, obvious jokes some people can’t help but reflexively make.) ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/34 "2023-12-25T16:53:31Z")
Well, it depends on whether it’s an African or European millipede, I think? (Aaaarghhh…) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/35 "2023-12-25T17:07:57Z")
Wait a minute, suppose a centipede and a millipede carried the jackfruit together? ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/36 "2023-12-25T18:15:23Z")
They would probably get into an argument about who was really doing the heavy lifting? And then the centipede would eat the millipede, and the jackfruit would be forgotten… ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/37 "2023-12-25T23:25:04Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > And then the centipede would eat the millipede, and the jackfruit would be forgotten… But wouldn’t the millipede outrun the centipede? It has ten times more feet after all… ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/38 "2023-12-26T00:23:38Z")
Shouldn’t that be a Kilopede? A millipede would have 1,000th of a pede. 😄 I’m goin’, I’m goin’. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/39 "2023-12-26T00:28:04Z")
And…a bicycle built for…hmmm? 🎶 ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051/40 "2023-12-26T02:50:40Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Just be glad it wasn’t a [Giant African Millipede.](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vY1aiNu09_c) Living in Africa, I can assure you that these are mindless bumblng idiot insects whose only threat to you is the ‘ick’ factor if you step on one. I grew up in Zimbabee, where the giant ones are ubquitous. Wait until you see our [snails](https://www.thesprucepets.com/should-you-keep-a-giant-african-land-snail-as-a-pet-5324930)! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-wormy-thing-i-found-in-my-house/995051.md?page=3)