Every so often, homeowners across Essex County find a small army of brown, worm-like bugs on the basement floor, in the garage or along the bottom of a sliding door. Many of them are curled into tight little coils, and many are already dead. Those are millipedes. They aren't dangerous and they don't damage your home, but they can show up in surprising numbers. The trick to dealing with them is understanding that the problem starts outside, not inside. Below, we'll explain what millipedes are, why they wander in and the changes that make the biggest difference. If you're tired of sweeping them up, our millipede control service can help.
What Millipedes Are
Millipedes are not insects. They're arthropods with long, rounded bodies made of many segments. Most body segments have two pairs of short legs, which gives them that rippling, wave-like walk. They're usually brown to black, and many common kinds are about an inch long, though size varies. When disturbed, a millipede often curls into a flat spiral to protect itself.
Outdoors, millipedes are helpful. They live in damp soil, mulch, leaf litter and under rotting logs, where they feed on decaying plant material and help break it down.
Millipede Or Centipede?
People often mix the two up. A few quick differences help:
- Legs: Millipedes have two pairs per segment, short and tucked under the body. Centipedes have one pair per segment, longer and sticking out to the sides.
- Speed: Millipedes move slowly. Centipedes are fast.
- Diet: Millipedes eat decaying plants. Centipedes hunt other bugs.
- Defense: Millipedes curl up. Centipedes run.
Why Millipedes End Up Indoors
Millipedes need moisture to survive. When their outdoor home gets too wet, too dry or too cold, they move, and some of that movement leads straight to your foundation. Heavy rain can push them out of saturated soil. In fall, they're often on the move looking for a place to spend the winter. Once they reach the house, they crawl under doors, through gaps in weatherstripping, into basement window wells and through cracks in the foundation.
The key detail is what happens next. Indoor air is usually too dry for millipedes, and they can't find their food inside. Most die within a few days. That's why you find so many dead, curled-up millipedes. They aren't breeding in your house. They're coming in from right outside, over and over.
Are Millipedes Harmful?
Millipedes don't bite or sting, and they don't damage wood, fabric, food or wiring. Some kinds can release a defensive fluid when handled or crushed. That fluid can have a strong smell, stain surfaces and irritate skin or eyes in some people, so it's best to pick them up with a paper towel or a vacuum rather than bare hands. If you get the fluid in your eyes or have a reaction, rinse well and see a doctor.
In the garden, millipedes mostly stick to dead plant material. Now and then they'll nibble on tender seedlings or soft fruit resting on damp soil, but that's usually minor. For most homeowners, the real issue is simply the number of them that end up indoors.
The Trick: Fix The Outside First
Spraying inside only deals with millipedes that are already dying. The real fix is making the ground next to your house dry and less inviting.
- Pull mulch back. Keep mulch, leaf litter and grass clippings a few inches away from the foundation. A strip of bare ground or gravel works well.
- Manage water. Clean gutters, extend downspouts away from the house and fix grading so water drains away from the foundation.
- Clear hiding spots. Move firewood, stones, boards and stored items off the ground near the house.
- Water in the morning. Watering lawns and beds early lets the soil surface dry out during the day.
- Seal entry points. Add door sweeps, replace worn weatherstripping and caulk foundation cracks and gaps around pipes.
- Dry the basement. A dehumidifier helps any millipedes that get in dry out faster.
For more ideas along the same lines, see our guide on how to keep bugs out of your house without spraying.
When To Call A Professional
If you've made the yard changes and still find millipedes every day, or they're showing up in large numbers after every rain, it's time for help. A technician can look for the moisture problems and entry points you might miss, treat the perimeter where millipedes gather and recommend home pest-proofing to close the gaps. EcoFusion's NJ DEP-licensed technicians use EPA-registered eco-safe products as part of an Integrated Pest Management plan.
Millipedes are a moisture problem that happens to walk into your house. For most Essex County homes, drying out the foundation area and sealing the gaps does more than any indoor spray. If they keep coming back, EcoFusion Pest Control offers a free inspection and can help you find the source.