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The stretch of hot dry weather followed by heavy rainfall in several areas is likely to trigger increased activity by millipedes and other pests (such as springtails) that are often found in moist organically-rich soils, mulch, etc. One constant is that most pesticides will provide mediocre results. People can pick their poison from the long list of what's available at the retail stores, but the fact remains that our annual summer millipede migrations simply overwhelm any chemical barrier that is applied by professionals or by homeowners. Spraying indoors along baseboards is not going to stop their trek across the carpet or linoleum where they often meet a timely but cruel demise at the hands (actually, the paws) of the family cat. Indoors, suck them up in the vacuum. Discard the bag before it's full. Decaying millipedes smell as bad as decaying lady beetles.
Outdoors, you can use any of the common products made by Ortho, Spectracide, Bayer, etc. Granular insecticides may help but usually fail because the user fails to read that critical label instruction about watering the lawn after applying the product. Liquid insecticides can be applied to the foundation, about 18 inches to 24 inches up the foundation wall and 3 to 5 feet out. Hereto, the critical point is water; you need to apply the chemical in sufficient volume to saturate the soil. For that reason, a garden hose sprayer is the weapon of choice. Spraying around windows may also cut down on millipede entry in these areas, but I would suggest using one of the more typical pump sprayers (the 1 to 2 gallon tanks or backpack sprayers). Remember that with ANY pesticide application outdoors you need to make sure to avoid chemical drift and contaminating yourself, children's toys, barbecue grills, etc. Insecticidal dusts (particularly Sevin Dust) can be applied in a 6 to 12 inch band along the foundation. However, dust formulations are NOT my choice when children and/or pets are likely to play in that vicinity. For people who want kinder, gentler choices, you can use diatomaceous earth but I would not count on it being any more effective.
The most frequently asked questions by callers are:
Q. What causes this problem?
A. In reality, I don't know what triggers these millipede migrations because I've seen it occur in areas where there was abundant but not excessive moisture.
Q. How long will this problem continue?
A. Somewhere between two days and ten weeks. Quite honestly there is no real answer, but populations tend to decline in August and applying pesticides every two days is NOT going to alter that fact.
Callers are directed to following web pages on millipedes and springtails:
http://insects.ncsu.edu/Urban/millipedes.htm
http://insects.ncsu.edu/Urban/springtails.htm
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 June 13, 2005 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.