The name lagniappe (pronounced lán-yap), derived from Louisiana French, means an "unexpected benefit".

[2] The female Milnesium lagniappe has a white or transparent body, with nine dorsal and lateral transverse bands featuring a reticulated pattern of irregular polygons.

The tardigrades have been collected from fruticose and foliose lichens on trees, deciduous leaf litter at the base of Liquidambar styraciflua, and moss on Pinus species.

[2] The Milnesium lagniappe water bear species is a member of the granulatum group, which is characterised by sculptured (reticulated) cuticles.

It shares some characteristics with M. reticulatum and M. tetralamellatum, but can be distinguished by its unique cuticle features, size, claw proportions and buccal tube width.