Scientific Name: Diplopoda
Millipedes are one of those icky surprises you find in your basement, bathroom, laundry room or any other wet place that, though they aren’t as scary as a rat or black widow, they are still one of the more repulsive pests that can invade your home. These shiny, wormy, snake-like arthropods are sometimes confused with centipedes but they are quite dissimilar. Centipedes are aggressive, sometimes biting carnivores with legs that jut out from their bodies while millipedes are docile decomposers that eat wet refuse. While these bugs aren’t scary, they are still gross and Pointe Pest Control can help you keep them out of your house.
General Information:
Millipedes have 2 legs that come out of each body segments, unlike centipedes that have only one. Unlike popular belief, millipedes do not have 1,000 legs. Most have less than 100 legs but the millipede leader with the most legs only tops out at 750. You might recognize a millipede by the way it coils itself. It does this to protect itself from danger since this protects its soft underside and the exterior has hard plates covering it called tergites. Some millipedes also emit a foul smelling stench when they feel threatened that scares away their enemies.
Signs of an Infestation:
Millipedes are blessed with longevity, living up to 7 years. This is not your blessing however and when it comes to an infestation of millipedes, they are hard to get rid of, seem to live forever and reproduce quickly. You will find them curled up in damp corners or scurrying around the wet areas of your home.
Treatment:
To discourage millipede survival, keeping usual damp areas of your home dry is a good first step. But that is impossible in some parts of your home, like bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. That’s where Pointe Pest Control comes in. Our treatments are safe, effective and guaranteed to bring you a completely pest free home. Your complete satisfaction is important to us and we look forward to being your pest control specialists for years to come. Call us to for all your pest and millipede control needs.