Black Portuguese Millipede

The black Portuguese millipede, Ommatoiulus moreletii, is an herbivorous millipede native to Portugal. This species was accidentally introduced into Australia where it has since become an invasive pest.

Adult black Portuguese millipedes are smooth, 20 – 45 millimetres long and coloured from grey to black their bodies are composed of numerous similar segments between a head and a tail end. Each body segment has 2 pairs of legs on each segment, although the first few segments may have only a single pair of legs. Immature specimens are striped and light brown.