Q: We have an abundance of these things in and around our home. What is it and how do we get rid of them? This one is nearly five inches long.

A: It’s a North American millipede, Narceus americanus.

There are other big millipedes, like the giant African millipede, Archispirostreptus gigas

You have probably also seen lots of smaller garden millipedes, Oxidus gracilis in your life.

They pose no harm. You can apply garden insecticide to mulch areas around your home foundation to kill them there