While hiking a gravel road in Arkansas’s Ouachita National Forest, I spotted an American giant millipede crossing ahead of me. Its size caught my attention, and I stopped to photograph it.
American Giant Millipede on the Forest Floor
Millipedes spend much of their time in leaf litter, beneath logs, and in other damp places. They feed on decaying leaves and other plant material, helping recycle nutrients on the forest floor.
Most of their body segments have two pairs of legs. That detail helps distinguish them from centipedes, which have one pair per segment. Millipedes also tend to move slowly, while centipedes move faster.
Despite their size and many legs, millipedes do not bite people. However, their defensive secretions can irritate skin, so they deserve care when encountered.
Photographing the Millipede With a Telephoto Lens
I used my Canon EOS 7D Mark II and a 100–400mm telephoto lens for this photograph. The lens let me capture a close view while leaving some space between the millipede and me.
During the hike, I wore my BlackRapid camera strap to keep my hands free between photographs.
The gravel road provided a chance to photograph a forest-floor animal out in the open. I could include the road surface around it while keeping the millipede as my subject.
Watching for Millipedes Along Forest Roads
I enjoy finding small subjects like this during my walks through the Ouachitas. A millipede crossing the road gives me a reason to stop and look at what is underfoot.
This encounter added another photograph to my collection of Arkansas wildlife. It also reminded me to watch the road itself as I hike through the forest.