This fall you may suddenly find your South Carolina home crawling with multi-legged pests. While centipedes and millipedes usually stay outdoors, they sometimes make their way into cool basements or damp laundry rooms when seeking shelter. These pests are relatively harmless, but they may signify a more significant pest problem. Additionally, you’re probably not comfortable sharing your space with creepy crawlies. Learn what you can do to keep centipedes and millipedes out of your South Carolina home this fall.
Identifying Millipedes
Millipedes look a lot like a worms with many legs. Their name is a bit deceiving as they do not have a thousand of anything, including legs. They do, however, have around 30 to 90 pairs alongside their dark brown bodies. They grow to be about an inch long and roll up in a ball to seek protection. They don't bite or attack people, but they can emit an odor, and the oil they secrete can cause blisters if you handle them.
Identifying Centipedes
Centipedes get their name from the number of legs they have, however again it's a bit deceiving. While they can have 100 legs, the amount varies from somewhere around 30 to 354, wrapping in pairs around their bodies. They are flatter than millipedes but still resemble a worms. They are lighter in color ranging from yellowish to light brown and often have some markings on them. Centipedes can bite if provoked, but it’s not usual for them to do so. They are more of a nuisance pest than anything.
Centipede And Millipede Behavior
Both centipedes and millipedes need moisture to survive. Outdoors they are often found under decaying piles of damp leaves, near leaky hose faucets, around landscaping that’s moist, or near standing water. If they make their way indoors, it's often by accident or convenience, chasing after some prey, or finding an easy opening. If they are in your home, they'll usually be found in the basement or laundry room, or under sinks with dripping pipes or areas of condensation. They eat other pests like spiders and silverfish.
Keeping Centipedes And Millipedes Out
If you are finding these pests in your South Carolina home this fall, you’ll want to take remediation steps to keep them out. If they can get in, so can other pests. Doing a thorough home inspection and examining for cracks, holes, and gaps and sealing them can help. Additionally, year-round pest protection from Aiken Pest Control can keep your Aiken, SC home free from centipedes and millipedes year-round.