Catch of the Week: Millipedes in Des Moines Area
September 10, 2019
Recently, our pest control technicians visited a house in Madrid that had a serious millipede infestation! We found hundreds of these critters in the swimming pool and making their way inside the home. Although these pests don’t really do any damage, they can still give homeowners a scare and be a nuisance. We’ll go over the best ways to keep millipedes away from your home.
Millipede Prevention Tactics
Millipedes are attracted to dark and damp spaces, homeowners will typically spot these critters in the garden, basement or garage. To avoid an infestation, there are a few steps you can take to make your property less attractive to millipedes.
Replace mulch with rocks. Like many other pests, millipedes thrive in mulch because they eat decayed wood, plants and dead leaves. Mulch also holds its moisture very well, which is attractive to these pests. Swapping the mulch around your home with small pebbles will help keep millipedes away.
Water your yard or garden in the morning. Millipedes are most active at night, so if you’re watering your garden earlier in the day, it should be more dry by the time they’re moving around. Additionally, keep moisture to a minimum if possible. Many homeowners overwater their yard, especially if they have an automatic sprinkler system. Be careful not to make this mistake to avoid attracting insects.
Remove debris and fallen fruit. Insects and scavengers alike are attracted to yards that provide opportunities for food and shelter. Millipedes can live in and feed on leaves, fruit and other plants, so it’s important to keep your yard tidy.
Seal cracks and crevices around the exterior. The best way to keep bugs out is to deny them the opportunity to get inside. Make sure you’re regularly checking along your foundation to ensure you don’t have any cracks pests can sneak into.
Fun Facts About Millipedes
- Many people believe millipedes are pretty much the same as worms, but they are actually arthropods. This means they have invertebrates with an exoskeleton, a body with segmented parts and jointed appendages.
- Despite their name meaning “one thousand legs”, millipedes do not have this many limbs. They will usually grow up to 200 legs as an adult.
- The main difference between a millipede and a centipede is their legs on their segmented bodies. Millipedes have two sets of legs per body section, while centipedes only have one set on each segment.
- Another notable distinction between the two arthropods is that millipedes have a much rounder shape compared to centipedes’ flat bodies.
Des Moines Pest Control Experts
Are you worried about a millipede infestation in your home? Get in touch with the exterminators at Preferred Pest Control to take care of issues. Call us at (515) 415-5550 or schedule an appointment online today.
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