Meet the tiny, 'worm-like' creatures you've been seeing around your home lately
These creatures are motivated by the weather.
The Weather Network viewers in southern Ontario have sent in photos of tiny, black 'worms' that have been appearing in large numbers outdoors.
These photos were snapped earlier this week in Hamilton, Ont.:
The tiny 'worm-like' creatures were seen on the side of a home in Hamilton, Ont. earlier this week. (The Weather Network/supplied)
(The Weather Network/supplied)
What are they?
"These look to be millipedes," explains The Weather Network's Mark Robinson, a meteorologist and wildlife biology specialist.
"Millipedes are a type of arthropod that’s more closely related to crayfish, shrimp, or lobsters than insects. They are important for soil formation as they feed on decaying organic matter and detritus, like leaf litter."
The fallen leaves may partially explain their recent appearance.
SEE ALSO: Five insects you might mistake for plants
(The Weather Network/supplied)
But they're also driven by temperatures, Robinson says.
"They’re cold-blooded, so warm temperatures get them moving and since we’ve had such a warm autumn they’re out later than normal.
They’re migrating to find either nice warm, indoor areas where they can spend the winter, or toward moist, protected outdoor spots to overwinter."
Millipedes require moist conditions to survive and they die out quickly when temperatures drop. They can live for 2-5 years, and if they find a hospitable environment to ride out the winter, they can survive the colder months.
And don't worry - millipedes are harmless. They do not have any venom and their defenses are not dangerous to humans. If they make it inside your home, they won't cause any structural damage.