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Residences, Structures and Communities |
Recent rains have set the stage for millipede populations to be on the move. When populations are high, they often enter houses and can be quite annoying to homeowners. They cause no damage within the house and usually die within 24 hours. Vacuuming is recommended, though it may need to be done on a daily basis. Millipedes are cosmopolitan, gray to brown colored arthropods with worm-like, round bodies usually 0.5 to 1.5 inches in length. They have short antennae and up to 30 pairs of legs or more. Known as thousand-leggers, millipedes walk slowly with their legs moving in a wavelike motion. Millipedes curl up tightly when disturbed.
Garden millipedes feed only on decaying organic matter and consequently do not harm living plants unless the soil is allowed to dry to the point that the millipedes then feed on the roots to obtain moisture. I have heard from persons who sweep up peck basket quantities of millipedes from their drives and patios day after day. Apparently, the millipedes build up in the yard, surrounding woods and mulch beds until the population is very large. Then the next time it rains, they emerge onto walks, patios, drives, and crawl into dwellings. Millipedes require a damp environment, and dry weather will drive them back into the mulch of surrounding woods. If you would like to do something, our first suggestion is to try to reduce the moisture factor before applying chemicals. Millipedes can be swept or washed from driveways and walks with sudsy water. For more information on the life cycle of millipedes and suggestions for chemical control, see Residential Pest Note No. 18.
Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Last modified on July 15, 2002 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.