If there’s one pest that every Aiken homeowner hates to see, it’s millipedes. These monstrous insects often startle South Carolina residents, and with their long bodies and many legs, Aiken residents want these pests out as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, some properties end up with infestations of millipedes. To learn more about these many-legged critters, let’s talk about what attracts millipedes to your Aiken home, and what you can do to prevent them.
Identification Guide For Millipedes
Even for insects, millipedes are pretty freaky. These gargantuan pests have long bodies with small sections, and a pair of legs support each section. Millipedes have tubular bodies, a pair of antennae, and they tend to crowd around dark, moist spaces.
Millipedes are often confused with centipedes; however, the two insects aren’t identical, and you can tell which pest you’re dealing with based on their legs. Centipedes have long, bent legs that jut out from their bodies. Millipedes, by contrast, have thin legs that move directly underneath their bodies.
The name “millipede,” meaning “thousand legs,” is slightly misleading. Millipedes don’t have thousands but legs, but they are very long and can have anywhere between 24-750 legs. As a result, millipedes average around 1-2 inches in length, but the longest can grow over a foot.
Problems Caused By Millipedes
Despite being ugly, monstrous insects, these pests are not highly dangerous. Millipedes are mostly nuisance pests, meaning they cause some discomfort but will not seriously harm your home or health.
Although they are mostly a nuisance, you don’t want a millipede around the house, even if you never see them. Any skin-to-skin contact with millipedes can leave a mild rash on the skin, and since these pests move surprisingly quickly, one may touch you.
Additionally, millipedes can be smelly, emitting an odorous fluid that irritates the eyes and nose. Finally, millipedes can cause damage to your garden and plant life, chewing through flowers and laying eggs under leaves. So, although millipedes don’t put you in danger, they can make life at home miserable.
Millipede Prevention Tips
Millipedes certainly frighten Aiken homeowners, so you should keep them out before they get inside. There are a few things that make your home attractive to these pests, and by implementing these pest control strategies, you can keep these insects out:
- Remove natural hiding spots around the house. Wood piles, gravel, and compost all provide dark, moist spaces for these pests to hide.
- Try to keep plant life away from your home. Millipedes crowd near plants in search of food, then move indoors after a storm or cold weather.
- Seal the area around your home. This includes any cracks in your foundation, door frames, windows, vents, pipes, and even the chimney.
If these pests still make their way indoors, or if you discover another infestation while trying to exterminate millipedes, contact the expert exterminators at Aiken Pest Control, and we’ll give you the advice and assistance needed to keep these monstrous critters out.