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House Millipedes: Is Your House a Millipede Hot Spot?

January 2nd, 2010 Posted in Centipedes & Millipedes

A long body swerves and scurries in your peripheral vision. A chill runs down your spine. You’ve just spotted a millipede in your home, and you’re afraid that where there’s one, there must be more.

This article will explore:

• What is a millipede?
• Where do millipedes live?
• How to get rid of millipedes

What is a millipede?

First of all, a millipede doesn’t have a million legs, or even a thousand. They have four pairs of legs on each segment of their body, usually between 80 and 400 legs in all. (That’s still a lot of legs!)

Millipedes aren’t insects. They are arthropods that are part of the class Diplopoda, with over 6,000 species. They are usually black or dark brown. They’re about an inch and a half long and have flat eyes that sit on the side of their head.

When threatened, millipedes will roll into a little ball. If you pick one up, you can watch this protective maneuver in action. Millipedes can live for up to seven years. (Apparently, that protective move really works.)

House millipedes are not pests because they generally stay outdoors and don’t bite or sting. They also don’t destroy structures or furniture. But occasionally they do wander indoors, especially when the weather starts to get colder.

Where do millipedes live?

Millipedes live in damp, dark places like compost piles, under rotting leaves, in cracks, and under logs. They aren’t predatory.

In fact, millipedes can be beneficial. They feed on damp, decaying vegetable matter, making them natural recyclers. They help to break down organic, biodegradable material.

Millipedes do travel indoors sometimes. In late fall, when the weather starts to get cooler, they might find their way into your home. They also come indoors if it rains too much and their homes flood.

If you find millipedes in your home, they’re likely in your garage or basement. They usually stay on the lowest floor and are attracted to damp, dark places. You’ll also usually spot them after dark. They like to hide during the day.

There’s good news, if you see a millipede in your home. They cannot reproduce indoors, so one millipede is not the start of a huge infestation of creepy crawlies.

If you see a lot of millipedes indoors, it’s probably because they laid eggs near your home and so now they are finding their way indoors.

Millipedes are unique insects because they migrate during certain parts of the year. Usually in the spring and fall, they will migrate long distances to warmer, more humid weather.

How to get rid of millipedes

If you spot a millipede in your home, don’t panic. Like I said, millipedes cannot reproduce indoors, so you don’t need to worry about a large scale infestation.

Insecticide is only useful in getting rid of millipedes outdoors. You can spray around the foundation of your home to ward off millipedes. If you do want to use chemicals, try EcoSMART Ant and Roach Killer, which works for crawling insects. It’s safe to spray on the lower parts of your home because it won’t harm your kids or pets.

If you see a millipede in your home, find anything to get the millipede outside: a broom and dustpan, a piece of paper, or a glass and a magazine. Take it away from your home and set it free in some nice woods or someplace with decaying material.

Mostly, the key to preventing millipedes is to control them. If you see one, you’ll want to institute preventative measures to stop more from coming in. Here are some things you can do to prevent millipedes entering your home in the first place:

• Seal cracks in your foundation, and any other holes that lead from the outdoors to your home. Don’t overlook even the tiniest crack- millipedes can enter your home through minuscule openings.
• Prevent a heavily moist environment. Millipedes need high humidity to live. Installing de-humidifiers can go a long way in making your home less hospitable to millipedes. Make sure you don’t have leaky faucets or plumbing in the walls. A dry home is a millipede free home!
• Move compost piles and leaves away from your home. If you keep millipedes’ favorite foods around your home, they’re more likely to think you want to welcome them inside.