Centipede & Millipede Control in Winder, GA

What are the Signs I Have a Centipede and Millipede Infestation in My Home?

The most common sign of a centipede or millipede infestation is the direct sighting of these multi-legged creatures, particularly in damp, secluded areas like basements, bathrooms, or crawl spaces. For centipedes, seeing them frequently, especially during the day, can suggest a larger population, as they are primarily nocturnal predators. Millipedes, on the other hand, are often found in large congregations, sometimes even dead in piles, especially when conditions become too wet or dry outdoors, forcing them indoors. While centipedes hunt other insects, an increased presence of other pests, like spiders or cockroaches, can also indicate that centipedes have a food source drawing them into your home. Additionally, discovering their shed exoskeletons (molted skins) in hidden areas can be a subtle but significant clue to their ongoing presence.

How Do Centipedes and Millipedes Enter My Home?

Centipedes and millipedes typically enter homes accidentally while seeking moisture, shelter, or food, especially when their outdoor habitats become too dry, too wet, or disturbed. They are attracted to damp, cool environments with abundant organic matter, so conditions like heavily mulched flower beds, leaf litter, rotting logs, or poor drainage around your home's foundation can draw them close. Common entry points include cracks and gaps in the foundation walls, around door and window frames, and through voids in concrete block walls. While centipedes can sometimes crawl up through drains, millipedes generally don't, but both can be brought indoors inadvertently on items stored in damp outdoor areas like firewood.

How can I prevent centipedes and millipedes from entering my home?

Preventive measures against centipedes and millipedes primarily focus on moisture control and sealing entry points. You should reduce humidity levels inside your home by fixing leaky pipes, ensuring proper ventilation in basements and crawl spaces, and using dehumidifiers. Outdoors, clear away decaying organic matter such as leaf litter, excessive mulch, and rotting wood from around your home's foundation, and ensure proper drainage to direct water away from the house. Sealing all cracks, gaps, and openings in your foundation, walls, doors, and windows with caulk or weatherstripping can effectively block their entry. Keeping your lawn mowed short and dethatching it can also make the environment less appealing to these pests.