Millipede Control in Cookeville & Crossville, TN
Millipedes in Your Home
Creepy, leggy insects are not usually a welcome sight in your home. While one or two may occasionally make their way inside – especially when conditions in your home are more welcoming to them than the conditions outdoors – no one wants an infestation that can potentially damage their home or make it feel uncomfortable for daily living. Millipedes are not dangerous, but they can be annoying pests that should remain outdoors. Generally, millipede control in Cookeville and Crossville, TN can be managed by preventing them from entering the house in the first place.
What Are Millipedes?
Millipedes are often referred to as “thousand-legged worms” for good reason. While they don’t actually have a thousand legs, they do have two pairs of legs per body segment. They are often confused with centipedes, which have one pair of legs per body segment. Millipedes can have different colors and sizes, but generally the “garden millipede” is about one inch in length and brown in color. Millipedes move more slowly than centipedes, so you can easily differentiate them. Millipedes are not poisonous, nor do they bite or sting, but they do release a fluid that smells unpleasant and can be toxic to pets. Even though they are not overtly dangerous, millipede pest control is important if you have an infestation to protect your home and pets from these pesky invaders.
What Are the Signs of a Millipede Infestation?
The most obvious sign that you have a millipede infestation is if you start seeing millipedes in your home. Millipedes are nocturnal, so you might see them crawling around in your kitchen or in damp places in your home. You would most often find millipedes in your garden around planter bases in damp earth. They love to hang out under damp wood, leaf piles, and grass clippings. Millipedes need damp conditions, so you won’t find them hanging out in the sunshine or anyplace dry. If you are seeing an excessive number of millipedes outside your home, you may want to take precautions to make sure that your millipede population does not become a millipede infestation problem inside your home. Millipede garden control can help prevent millipedes from entering your home and causing problems.
Why Are Millipedes Invading Your Property?
When the weather turns warm and dry, you may see an increase in millipedes in your home, especially if you have cool, damp conditions in your home. Basements and crawl spaces are popular places for millipedes to gather. Millipedes feed on damp and deteriorating vegetation, so they won’t usually be found in rooms in the home that don’t offer a food source or a hospitable, damp environment. If conditions outside are too hot and dry or even overly rainy, millipedes will make their way indoors to search for food and a friendlier home. In the absence of vegetation to feed on, millipedes will sometimes also eat dead insects.
What Damage Can Millipedes Cause?
Millipedes are not dangerous, but the fluid they secrete can be toxic to small animals that you have in your home and cause chemical burns on the skin, which can lead to discoloration. You may also notice plants in your home appear to have been chewed on, which can damage your indoor plants. Overall, millipedes are not overly dangerous or damaging, but having too many in your home can be an annoyance, so millipede extermination might be a solution for you. Midstate Termite & Pest Control offers full-service pest removal and prevention in Cookeville and Crossville, TN.
How to Get Rid of Millipedes
The best method of millipede control is through prevention. This means controlling the environment and making sure that the conditions in and around your home are not hospitable to millipedes. Inside your home, removing moisture from your basement or crawl space can make an immediate difference. When you call a professional, an inspection can identify the point of entry to show how millipedes are entering your home. More aggressive prevention methods such as chemical treatments and pest monitors can be used in high-traffic areas where millipedes are drawn. Outside your home, you can minimize the millipede population by making a less hospitable environment in your yard. Avoid over-watering your lawn and keep the area along your foundation dry by checking your gutters and downspouts. Check faucet areas outside for leakage to keep moisture away from the foundation. Keeping your lawn short can also make a drier environment that will keep millipedes away from your home.
Tips for Millipede Prevention
There are many basic steps you can take for millipede control. Both inside and outside the house, these tips can help keep your home millipede-free:
- Check common entry points around doors and windows to make sure they are properly sealed.
- Reduce dampness by fixing leaks and using dehumidifiers.
- Keep plants raised up off of the floor.
- Reduce hiding places by cleaning frequently under cabinets and behind appliances.
- Store food in airtight containers.
Millipede FAQ
Millipedes are most often brown or grey in color. They can be between one and two inches in length with a segmented body. They have two pairs of legs per segment.
Millipedes are most often found in damp environments where there is vegetation for them to feed on. They like gardens, mulch, damp grass, and compost piles.
No. Millipedes are not particularly dangerous. They secrete a fluid that can discolor the skin, which has an unpleasant odor. Their secretions can also be toxic to small animals.
Millipedes will enter a home in search of a suitable damp environment or access to water. Millipedes require moisture to live.
Load More
Contact Us for Millipede Control
Millipedes can be an annoyance in your home and a sign of other issues. If you have an abundance of pests in and around your home, contacting Midstate Termite & Pest Control is your best option for pest removal and control. If you are having issues with pests in your home, contact us in Cookeville or Crossville, TN for an inspection!