Even though millipedes are occasionally confused for centipedes, most of us can recognize a millipede or a centipede. However, many of us do not know what it means when these creatures get inside.
In this article, we reveal why you keep finding millipedes in your house, so read on to learn more.
Where Do Millipedes Come From And Why Do They Come Into The House?
Millipedes are typically found outdoors where they hide in damp places in the yard, for example under leaves and stones, in flowerbeds, mulch, rotting wood, compost, and around house foundations.
If you’re finding lots of millipedes in your home, it means that the conditions outside have attracted them indoors.
Too much rain, drought, and cold temperatures can make the outdoor habitat less favorable for millipedes, which is why you will often see these bugs in the house during these conditions.
Extended drought conditions can make it too dry outside and drive millipedes indoors in search of water, while heavy rain and oversaturation of the soil around your house will make them come indoors in search of shelter.
If they find that it’s too hot outside, millipedes may sneak into your house and hide in spots that are not exposed to direct sunlight, such as under furniture. This is because they are seeking moisture and moderately warm temperatures.
Also, millipedes are outdoor pests so they may sometimes be seen inside when they wander here by mistake.
Since these pests are narrow, they can easily fit through small gaps. You will find them entering under doors with imperfect door sweeps and thresholds, but also through missing mortar joints, utility penetrations, and weep holes in exterior brick veneer.
Once they make their way indoors, millipedes tend to gravitate toward damp areas of your home like laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, garages, crawlspaces, and under sinks.
Are Millipedes In The House Dangerous?
Garden millipedes, also known as greenhouse millipedes, are the most commonly found species that enter homes.
In essence, they do not cause damage to homes and are nothing more than a nuisance. They are blind, they don’t bite humans and don’t carry any disease. Unlike other pests, millipedes are not harmful as they won’t do any damage to your house, food, or belongings.
However, you may at times see them feeding on plants in your garden if it’s over-watered or has a large amount of plant debris and rotting material on the ground.
In your home, millipedes can also indicate a moisture problem. They consume decaying organic matter such as rotting wood particles. So if the wooden structures in your house happen to be damaged by water, millipedes will attempt to come in to feed. And while they are not as destructive as termites or carpenter ants, millipedes may signal that there are conditions in your house that are attractive to those pests.
How Long Does A Millipede Infestation Last?
For the most part, millipedes don’t really infest houses, and there is no set season when they could come in large numbers to invade your home. However, they go on a mass migration twice a year, during the spring and in the fall. But it is usually a very short-lived occurrence where a huge population emerges locally, and it will subside soon on its own.
Additionally, millipedes can grow numerous in gardens if the conditions are ideal for them. Millipedes actually prefer to stay outside. Your home is not a good environment for them to live and survive. They simply cannot reproduce indoors and there isn’t much in your house that they could eat, so they will not survive long if they find themselves inside. Millipedes will also die fairly quickly if they don’t get any moisture inside.
These are harmless creatures that found their way into your home and don’t really want to stay there for too long.
But they may be able to live longer if they find a source of water and food. Most likely, if you find a few millipedes in your house, it’s because of a source of moisture that needs to be investigated and taken care of.
How Do I Keep Millipedes Out Of My House?
The best way to deal with millipedes is to keep everything very dry as they don’t do very well in dry environments. For example, if you notice moisture caused by a leaky pipe or a damaged gutter, make sure to fix that urgently. These bugs need moisture to survive, so once you remove that, it will no longer attract them.
Also, millipedes in your house can become food for other pests so eliminate any insects that may potentially attract them.
Millipedes are sometimes in need of professional pest removal services and a pest control company can definitely help you if the problem persists in your home. If you spot a few problematic millipedes that are making their way indoors from the garden at times, pest control technicians can apply a barrier spray to keep them away.
You can reach out to our team of experts at American Pest Control in Northeast Georgia for a quick resolution to your problem. So contact us today for assistance with the control of millipedes and other common household pests. Let us help you get rid of these creepy crawlies that are creating a nuisance in your home!
