Is It Legal to Own a Giant African Millipede? State-by-State Guide
There was never a 2006 blanket import ban on giant African millipedes, despite what hobbyist forums repeat. The real rule is a standing USDA import permit, plus real state variation from Florida's named permit to Oregon's outright approval.
Is It Legal to Own a Giant African Millipede? State-by-State Guide
Giant African millipedes are one of the most popular beginner invertebrates in the hobby, and also one of the most rumor-prone when it comes to legality. Search around and you'll run into a specific, oft-repeated claim about a 2006 import ban tied to agricultural mites. That story doesn't hold up. The real legal picture is both more mundane and more current than the myth. For everything else about keeping one, see our full Giant African Millipede care guide.
Where Giant African Millipedes Actually Stand
| Where | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Federal law (import and interstate) | Permit required | USDA APHIS requires a PPQ 526 permit, since millipedes fall under the federal "plant pest" definition as potential carriers of agricultural pests |
| Florida | Conditional permit required | State rules name Archispirostreptus gigas directly, requiring secure double-contained caging and a permit |
| Hawaii | Effectively prohibited | Not included on either state approved-species list, so it can't legally be introduced under Hawaii's default-prohibit system |
| Oregon | Legal, no permit | Explicitly listed as an approved pet species under state rule, provided the stock originates from the continental US |
| Most other states | Generally legal | No state-specific restriction found, though the federal import permit still applies to bringing one into the country |
Debunking the "2006 Ban"
A specific story circulates on hobbyist forums claiming all millipede imports were banned in 2006 over concerns about mites damaging cotton crops. We checked the exact Federal Register notice commonly cited for this claim, and it doesn't mention millipedes at all; it's an unrelated notice about grape imports from Namibia. What is real is a standing, ongoing USDA import permit requirement that has led to actual enforcement, including a live giant African millipede intercepted in a traveler's suitcase at the Atlanta airport, and twenty more seized at a West Coast airport after being mislabeled as toy car models in a shipment from Germany.
Florida, Hawaii, and Oregon Take Different Approaches
Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services names Archispirostreptus gigas directly in its 2025 invertebrate import guidelines, placing it in a conditional category that requires a permit and secure, locked or double-contained caging. Hawaii doesn't name the species at all; instead, it operates a default-prohibit system where only animals on an approved list may be introduced, and since giant African millipedes never appear on either of Hawaii's lists, they're effectively excluded by omission. Oregon goes the other direction entirely, explicitly listing the species as an approved pet under state rule, with no permit required, as long as the animal comes from continental US stock.
The Secretion Myth Worth Correcting
This species is well known for producing a defensive liquid when handled roughly, and a common claim online describes it as containing hydrogen cyanide. A 1974 study that specifically analyzed this species identified the compounds as toluquinone and a related benzoquinone, not cyanide. The effect described in the scientific literature is skin and eye irritation and staining, not poisoning. Cyanide-producing defenses are real in some other millipede groups, just not in this one.
The Real Takeaway
The federal government does regulate bringing a giant African millipede into the country, through a standard invertebrate import permit, not a species-specific ban. State law varies more than people expect: Florida requires a named permit, Hawaii excludes it by omission from its approved list, and Oregon allows it outright. The "2006 ban" story that keeps circulating isn't backed by any document we could find, and shouldn't be treated as settled fact.
Sources & Further Reading
- USDA APHIS: Invertebrate Pets
- Florida FDACS: Guidelines for Importing Arthropods and Other Invertebrates (February 2025)
- Oregon OAR 603-052-1320: Approved Species (Non-Regulated)
- Wood, W.F. (1974). Toluquinone and 2-Methoxy-3-methylbenzoquinone from the Defensive Secretions of Three African Millipedes. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 67(6): 988-989.
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Written by Mike
Mike is the founder of Beastly Facts and a lifelong reptile enthusiast. He shares his home with Dex, a bearded dragon with strong opinions about crickets and basking schedules. Mike writes in-depth care guides, animal facts, and the occasional short story about life with exotic pets.
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