Millipede Control
What the heck are they doing in here!? Millipedes are worm-like arthropods that are common in Pennsylvania. Millipedes are segmented and can be distinguished by the fact that they have two legs per body segment. Millipedes are also dark brown in color and curl up into a “C” shape upon death. Millipedes generally call cool dark places outside their home, but sometimes they become restless and migrate inside and become pests. These home invasions usually come as cooler weather approaches or come after a heavy rainstorm.
Since some places in homes are dark and damp, millipedes will often thrive inside the home. Although they may call dark damp places of the structure home, they often migrate to the living spaces of the structure.
Are Millipedes dangerous? Even though millipedes look scary, they are just an irritating pain. Millipedes don’t have pincers, teeth or stingers and can’t aggressively defend themselves like many other insects. Some species of millipede also emit a foul smelling and tasting chemical to protect them from predators; some of these chemicals can be caustic and cause burns and blisters on human skin.
How do I keep them out? Here at Budget Pest Control, our experienced technicians will inspect and spot problem areas into which millipedes might be entering the structure and prevent a millipede invasion from happening. These areas include but are not limited to compost, shrubbery or river gravel that is near the foundation of the home. We then treat any areas that a millipede could enter thoroughly to keep the millipedes away from your property. We also inspect the interior of the home to find any possible areas including dark and damp places that a millipede could call home. We then treat throughout and make sure that any millipedes within the structure are taken care of.
At Budget Pest Control Inc. our technicians and trucks are ready with the latest in equipment and products designed to make sure that you and your home are protected from millipede invasions. Give us a call regarding our Millipede Control today! Have a chat with our friendly office personnel. We will get together an estimate and if you wish be on your way in a jiffy and remember…Our technicians work 7 days a week (just not the same ones).
Stats
Millipedes are small worm-like arthropods that usually go unnoticed by most people. They are usually brown to dark brown in color and have two legs per body segment. They are usually about an inch long and have a tubular body configuration. Millipedes usually live in the woods under leaves and in fallen logs. They prefer damp, dark environments and can venture into areas of the home with this type of environment.
Did You Know?
- When a millipede dies it curls into a ball with its hard outer shell facing outwards.
- Some species of millipedes have special glands that emit a terrible stinky odor to defend themselves from predators.
- According to fossil records millipedes were among the first creatures to be able to breath air and live on land.
Myths & Facts
Myth: Millipedes have 1,000 legs.
Fact: Even though the name millipede means 1,000 feet, there is no known species of millipede that has 1,000 legs. The millipede does have two legs per body segment which is twice as many as its cousin the centipede.
Myth: With all those legs millipedes must be able to crawl quickly.
Fact: Millipedes are actually relatively slow moving. It is for this reason that they’ve developed defensive tactics like curling in a tight ball as well as chemical “stink” defenses.
Signs of An Infestation
- Millipedes aren’t known to leave any circumstantial signs of infestation. However, seeing large numbers of millipedes in your home is a strong indicator that you have a millipede problem.
Millipedes FAQ
Millipedes
- Millipedes are long, slender creatures. Some people call them “thousand-leggers” because they have so many legs.
- Around a home, millipedes would live in flowerbeds. They would hide under mulch or piles of dead leaves. Millipedes could also live under piles of grass clippings or under landscape timbers. In the lawn, millipedes often live in the thatch between the grass and the soil. At the end of summer, millipedes migrate from their normal habitat. They also migrate sometimes when heavy rain has flooded their habitat. When the millipedes leave the lawn or the flowerbed, many of them may find their way to the home.
- Millipedes can enter a home through basement doors or windows or crawlspace vents. The garage door is a common entryway. They can also enter through an entrance door that is missing weather stripping.
- Millipedes do not usually live very long in the dry environment inside a home. However, most homeowners prefer to have the millipedes gone. A vacuum cleaner or a shop-type vacuum is useful for removing millipedes from the floors.
- To make your flowerbeds less attractive to millipedes, you can remove excess mulch. Use a rake to pull the remaining mulch away from the foundation. Make a gap of six inches or more, if possible, between the mulch and the foundation. Be sure there are no piles of dead leaves or grass clippings near the foundation.
- To keep millipedes out of the crawl space, make sure the crawl space vents are properly screened. Check the access door to the crawl space to be sure it closes tightly.
- Check the weather stripping on all the exterior doors. Step outside at night and look at the doors. If light is shining under a door, millipedes could crawl under it. Check the basement door too, and make sure the basement windows have screens.
Where do millipedes come from?
- They usually dwell in damp areas outdoors but can migrate inside if their habitat outdoors becomes too hot and dry. Around homes, they can live in flowerbeds, gardens, or even under doghouses. Once inside, they may hide under furniture or boxes of stored items.
- When they come to a home, millipedes gather on porches and patios. They climb the foundation of the home, and they often find entryways such as: Basement doors and windows, Crawlspace vents, Doors with missing weather stripping
Are millipedes dangerous?
- Millipedes do not bite or sting, nor do they do any damage to stored food, structures, or furniture. However, there are some species of millipedes that excrete a defensive fluid that irritates the skin of people who handle them or
otherwise meet those toxic millipede species. - Since the pests are most active at night, their appearance can scare homeowners moving boxes or other items. Millipedes also move in large numbers, so they can become a major nuisance and cause quite a fright to unsuspecting people or pets. But, since millipedes feed on and thus decompose organic matter, they are actually very beneficial to the environment.
Are there signs of millipede infestations?
Other than the sightings of the millipedes, there are few distinct signs of their presence.
What can I expect at my treatment?
- Your technician will speak with you and discuss areas of activity and settle payment. Your technician will perform a quick inspection to determine areas where millipedes may be harboring.
- Chemical products are the most effective and efficient approach; our plan will include exterior and interior applications of products to potential entry points and harborage sites where millipedes accumulate. Your technician
may recommend sealing around doors, windows, cracks, gaps, and crevices, plus reducing moist places that promote millipede survival.
