Millipedes mostly live outside in damp areas under mulch, leaves, compost piles, boards, stones. However, they may find their way into your house by accident, in search of water during periods of drought, or in need of shelter when heavy rain disturbs their natural habitat, causing an infestation in your home, basement, crawl space, or garage.
If you have a millipede infestation in your house, there are likely millipedes breeding in your lawn, under mulch, or debris near your foundation. The best approach to prevent millipedes from entering your home is professional millipede control.
Are Millipedes Dangerous and Cause Damage?
No, millipedes are mostly harmless to humans and pets. However, some species may emit a toxic substance from their exoskeleton to ward off predators. If you touch one, you might notice a slight burning sensation or skin irritation. Millipedes do not cause damage to a property, but they are unsightly and unwelcome in a home or business.
Millipedes are considered natural recyclers, meaning they eat decaying leaves and other plant materials but will consume other decaying material such as firewood, cardboard boxes, or other sources of wood.
Signs of Millipede Infestation
You won’t generally notice any signs of millipedes in your home. Typically, the only way you’ll know that millipedes are inside your home is if you happen to spot them.
When cleaning the basement, you may find a clump of millipedes behind some old boxes, furniture, or in an area that is warm and damp. Millipedes may produce a foul-smelling liquid when threatened or crushed. This liquid may stain nearby fabrics or carpeting.
How to Get Rid of Millipedes
Fortunately, millipedes are simple and easy to control. Here are a few ways how to prevent and get rid of millipedes from your home:
- Remove moisture from foundation or crawl spaces.
- Use properly functioning gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks to keep water away from your foundation wall.
- If your house has poor drainage, you may need to install tiles, drains, or slope the ground so the water can properly drain away from the foundation.
- Repair leaky faucets, water pipes, and air conditioning units.
- Adjust your sprinkler system to minimize water pooling on your lawn.
- Reduce humidity in your crawl space or basement by providing ventilation, sump pumps, and polyethylene soil covers.
- Millipedes thrive in the moist thatch layer of a poorly maintained lawn. Detach your lawn and mow the grass short to make it less appealing to millipedes.
- Avoid over-watering or watering your yard at night.
- Seal cracks and openings in your outside foundation.
- Hire a trained pest management professional
Professional Millipede Control
Even though you don’t have to worry about millipedes destroying your property or being a threat to you and your family, they can be a real nuisance. At Rid-A-Bug, we’ve handled plenty of millipede infestations, so we can come in and remove the pests quickly and safely. We have been serving North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia since 1972. Whether you suspect a pest problem or are dealing with an infestation, Rid-A-Bug is happy to help. Contact us today to schedule your millipede inspection.