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Millipedes can be a nuisance when they invade your home or garden. To get rid of millipedes, follow these steps:
1. Remove their hiding places by cleaning up any piles of debris, wood, or leaves near your home.
2. Seal any cracks or openings in your home’s foundation, doors, and windows to prevent millipedes from entering.
3. Use insecticides labeled for millipedes to treat areas where they are present. Focus on the perimeter of your home and any areas where they may be entering.
4. Create a barrier around your home by applying a granular insecticide or diatomaceous earth.
5. Reduce moisture levels by fixing any leaks, improving drainage, and using dehumidifiers in damp areas.
By following these steps, you can effectively eliminate millipedes and prevent future infestations.
If you discover millipedes in your residence, take comfort in knowing that they have no desire to be there. Millipedes prefer to consume decaying plant matter and thrive in moist and damp environments. Therefore, they would much rather reside outdoors rather than coexist with you in your home (thankfully).
The millipedes you encounter have most likely unintentionally entered your house and are unable to find their way back out. This is good news, as it significantly reduces the likelihood of a millipede infestation. Instead, you will only need to deal with the occasional stray millipede.
Commonly referred to as thousand leggers, millipedes typically have an average of 80 to 400 legs. Unlike centipedes, which have a single pair of legs per body segment, millipedes have two pairs of legs per segment. Although they are often grouped together with insect pests, millipedes are not insects; they are arthropods. Arthropods are invertebrates with segmented bodies and jointed limbs. You are most likely to encounter these nocturnal creatures after sunset.
What is the Appearance of Millipedes?
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- Species name: Diplopoda spp.
- Physical characteristics: Typically measuring 1 to 2 inches in length, possessing 80 to 400 legs, segmented body, and curling into a ball when disturbed
- Wings or wingless? Wingless
- Color/species varieties:
Brown, black, or reddish in color - Life cycle and appearance: Eggs hatch into legless larvae, which then develop into adults that periodically molt as they grow.
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- Distinguishing features from similar species: Millipedes are often mistaken for centipedes but move at a much slower pace and have a darker coloration. Centipedes have antennae on both ends of their bodies.
Methods for Removing Millipedes
Getting rid of millipedes is generally not a challenging task, and there are various approaches you can take. All of them are simple and relatively affordable. However, it is important to exercise caution when using chemical controls around children and pets. You can resolve most millipede issues within a few days.
Using Boric Acid
To eliminate millipedes you encounter and deter future millipede visitors, you can sprinkle boric acid powder in your home. Sprinkle the powder along your basement walls and any other areas where you spot millipedes. You can also use a duster to insert boric acid into cracks or holes. As the millipedes move across the boric acid, its rough surface will cut into them and dehydrate them. It also disrupts their digestive system.
When using boric acid, exercise caution. Avoid using it in areas where children or pets may come into contact with it, as they are particularly sensitive to its effects. Additionally, take care not to inhale boric acid while spreading it.
If you have concerns about boric acid’s toxicity, you can use food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) instead. DE is derived from pulverized fossils of ancient sea creatures and functions similarly to boric acid by cutting and dehydrating millipedes. DE is non-toxic; however, inhaling it may still cause throat and lung irritation. Although DE works slightly slower than boric acid, the delay is worth it if it means keeping your household safer.
When is it necessary to hire a professional?
Eliminating millipedes from your house is something that most homeowners can handle on their own. However, if you continue to see millipedes even after cleaning up their attractants and sealing your home, it may be a good idea to seek professional assistance. A professional exterminator may be able to identify cracks or openings that you may have missed when sealing your home. On average, the cost for an exterminator visit is around $176.
When hiring an exterminator, it is important to choose one with a good reputation and ask for references. Additionally, look for a company that offers a guarantee or warranty on their work. Obtain multiple estimates and ensure that the company you select will send a licensed pesticide contractor to your home. Also, confirm that the company is willing to provide information about the insecticides they use, or if they are willing to use natural and environmentally friendly pest control methods if that is your preference.
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Natural methods for getting rid of millipedes
Pesticides are a quick and convenient solution for dealing with millipede problems, but there are several natural alternatives that can be just as effective. Whether you are concerned about using pesticides in your home or simply want to be environmentally conscious, there are various natural options available.
Wait for them to disappear
While millipedes can live for five to seven years, they will not survive inside your home. As long as you have eliminated any sources of food or water, any millipedes that are present in your home will eventually die from starvation or dehydration within a few days.
Remove them manually
Since full-scale millipede infestations are rare, you will likely only encounter one millipede at a time. In this case, you can simply pick it up with your hands and release it outside. Millipedes do not bite, but they may emit a foul-smelling chemical when disturbed, so remember to wash your hands afterwards.
If the idea of touching a millipede makes you uncomfortable, you can use a vacuum cleaner to suck them up instead. However, it is uncertain whether the millipede will survive or not. To be safe, change the vacuum cleaner bag and dispose of it immediately in case the millipede is still alive. This way, you can ensure that it will not crawl back out.
Create a trap
Another option for removing millipedes is to construct a simple trap. To do this, place a piece of very ripe fruit at the bottom of a bottle. Insert a piece of tubing tightly into the bottle’s neck, ensuring that it extends about 2 inches inside. Seal the tube in place using caulk or tape.
Position the trap in areas where you have seen millipedes. Lay the bottle on its side so that the outer part of the tube touches the floor. Make sure the inner part of the tube does not touch the inside of the bottle. The millipedes will crawl into the trap in search of the fruit and will be unable to escape. Once trapped, you can dispose of the bottle or release the millipedes back into their natural habitat.
Tea Tree and Peppermint Essential Oil Spray
There is a belief that millipedes have an aversion to the scent of tea tree and peppermint oils. To use these oils, simply add a few drops to a spray bottle filled with water and spray the mixture in the same way you would use a chemical pesticide. Spray along baseboards, windows, and doors. You can also spray the oil outside along the foundation of your home and in the garden. Remember to reapply the outdoor oils after it rains.
While essential oil sprays can help deter millipedes from entering your house, they do not kill them. If desired, you can add a small amount of dish soap to the essential oil mix, creating your own insecticidal soap. Insecticidal soap kills millipedes upon contact, allowing you to quickly eliminate any millipedes you come across using a squirt bottle. By combining the soap and essential oils, your spray can serve a dual purpose: killing visible millipedes and repelling unseen ones.
Why Millipedes Enter Your Home
Millipedes do not typically prefer to live indoors, so how and why do they end up inside? Usually, millipedes are found outside your home, residing in mulch or decaying plant matter, often in flower beds or near the foundation plantings just outside your home. After a period of cool weather or heavy rainfall, millipedes may start seeking a drier or warmer place to settle. In their search, they may accidentally discover a crack or opening in your home.
Although there isn’t a specific millipede season, you are more likely to encounter them in the spring or fall. During these times, changing weather conditions can trigger mass migrations of millipedes in search of a more favorable environment. While a few more millipedes than usual may find their way indoors during these periods, it is reassuring to know that millipedes do not reproduce indoors. Once you eliminate the adults, your millipede issue should be completely resolved.
Preventing Millipede Infestation
It is pointless to remove millipedes from your home if you are just going to invite them back in. To truly eliminate them, you need to make your home less appealing to millipedes.
Maintain Cleanliness
Eliminate any standing water in your home and install a dehumidifier in damp basements and crawl spaces. Get rid of any old and decaying debris, such as open bags of mulch in the garage or piles of old newspapers in the basement. Additionally, fix any leaky faucets or pipes, as they will hinder your efforts to maintain a dry and moisture-free home.
Seal Your Home
Use caulk or expanding foam to seal any cracks or crevices in your home, especially in the basement. Seal around windows and other entry points, and install new weatherstripping around your doors.
Make Your Outdoor Space Less Appealing
Inspect your lawn to see if any millipede-friendly conditions exist. Move mulch, woodpiles, pine needles, and decaying plant matter away from the foundation of your home. Rake up leaves in your lawn and garden, and maintain a tidy landscape. Water your lawn and outdoor plants conservatively to avoid excess moisture. When cleaning up old mulch, fallen leaves, and other outdoor clutter, remember to clean your downspouts. Downspouts filled with decaying plant material provide ideal hiding spots for millipedes.
To ensure your grass dries quickly after rain showers, keep it mowed short and remove any excess moisture by dethatching. Since millipedes overwinter in the soil, it’s best to minimize their hiding places. Additionally, replace worn weatherstripping to prevent their entry into your home.
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Do Millipedes Cause Damage or Spread Disease?
While millipedes may be a nuisance, they are harmless creatures. Although encountering one may startle you or make you feel uncomfortable, millipedes do not pose any harm. They do not bite and usually curl into a tight ball when disturbed. Some species, however, may release a smelly chemical that can irritate the skin. To avoid any issues, it is recommended to wash your hands thoroughly after handling a millipede.
Millipedes primarily feed on decaying organic matter, so there is no need to worry about them damaging your clothing, carpets, or wooden structures like some other pests. Your lawn and garden are also safe, as millipedes feed on dead plant matter rather than live plants.
