What are Millipedes?

Why Millipedes Enter the Home

Now that you know the basics of these creatures, what are millipedes doing in your home? Millipedes live outdoors naturally, but they might wander indoors for several reasons, including hot, dry weather and heavy rain that drives them toward higher ground. They typically get in through foundation cracks, gaps underneath doors, basement window wells, vents, and utility openings, and they favor moisture-prone spaces, like bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, and crawlspaces.   

While millipedes venture indoors on occasion, they don’t flourish inside. They reproduce in soil, mulch, grass, and dense vegetation and rarely find enough food inside to sustain themselves. 

Unlike clover mites, stink bugs, and other pests, most millipedes don’t overwinter in homes; they survive cold temperatures by dramatically slowing their activity and hunkering down in stable areas, such as beneath rocks, under mulch, or deep in soil. Some might enter homes when the freeze sets in, but unless they find moist conditions, they don’t survive long.

In other words, millipedes might think your home is lovely, at least from time to time, but they don’t want to live there. If they come indoors too often, they dry out.

Are Millipedes Dangerous?

Millipedes aren’t dangerous to people or animals; they don’t bite, sting, or spread disease to humans or pets. Unlike rodents, carpenter ants, and termites, millipedes don’t destroy structures, damage furniture and other belongings, or cost you money in home repairs. They don’t raid pantries or chew through wires. 

In short, they’re among the most well-behaved pests in the Garden State. 

This isn’t to say they have no bad traits. Their main drawback is a foul-smelling defensive odor they release when scared, disturbed, threatened, or squished. If these secretions come into contact with your skin, temporary irritation or discoloration might occur. If they come into contact with your eyes, more significant irritation might be present.  

This foul-smelling odor also means millipedes probably don’t taste too savory. This (hopefully) doesn’t apply to people, but pets that eat millipedes might find a bad-tasting meal, leaving them drooling, irritating their mouths, or causing upset stomachs.

Keeping Millipedes Out of Your Home

So . . . what are millipedes’ habits when it comes to sneaking inside your home?

Millipedes are much easier to keep out of your home than pests determined to get in. A little DIY maintenance around the house might be enough to fully deter millipedes . . . and a whole lot of other things.

Start with entry points, closing off gaps and cracks around pipes, utility lines, windows, doors, and anywhere else pests may wiggle through. Replace any worn weatherstripping, door sweeps, and screens; although millipedes can’t fly, they can crawl onto screens and climb through any holes.

If you’ve attracted more millipedes than feels normal, consider reducing indoor humidity with a dehumidifier or improved ventilation. Humidity is most likely to be problematic in basements and crawlspaces. Look outdoors as well; with millipedes, your exterior is usually more attractive than what’s inside.

To make your yard less attractive to millipedes, keep mulch, heavy layers of organic material, and leaf piles away from your foundation, and remove rotted wood, stones, and damp debris (anything that might provide a natural place to hide). Don’t overwater, particularly near your home’s foundation, and keep gutters and downspouts clear so they direct water away from the home. Anything that adds moisture also adds millipedes.

If you see a millipede inside, don’t panic; it’s likely a wayward wanderer rather than a sign of an infestation. As long as you’re comfortable, pick it up with the cup-and-paper method and put it outside. Although millipedes won’t hurt you if you handle them, they can leave their defensive spray on your hand. Picking them up might also harm them, as millipedes, like all small creatures, tend to be fragile.

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