Millipedes are small, many-legged creatures often found in damp, dark places. This Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan focuses on preventing millipede infestations by reducing moisture, removing hiding places, and using chemical controls only when absolutely necessary. By following the steps below, you can help ensure a safe, sustainable, and effective way to keep millipedes away from your home or property.
Identification
Think of millipedes like little “tubes” with lots of legs. Millipedes:
- Have a long, rounded body that looks like a tube.
- Move slowly, almost like they are crawling in slow motion.
- Have two pairs of legs on each body segment.
In contrast, centipedes:
- Have a flatter body and usually move much faster.
- Have one pair of legs per body segment.
If you spot a slow, round-bodied critter with many legs, it is most likely a millipede!
Monitoring and Identification
- Routine Inspections: Check damp areas (basements, crawl spaces, gardens) regularly for millipedes.
- Record Activity: Note where and when you see millipedes to track population changes.
Prevention
- Moisture Control: Fix leaks, improve drainage, and ventilate damp areas to reduce humidity.
- Landscape Modifications: Avoid overwatering and direct water away from your home’s foundation.
- Sanitation: Keep organic debris (like leaves and mulch) away from walls and foundations.
Cultural Control
- Habitat Alteration: Trim or remove excess vegetation near your home and replace wood mulch with gravel where possible.
- Irrigation Management: Water in the morning so soil surfaces can dry by evening, making it less inviting for millipedes.
Biological Control
While there are no widely used commercial biological controls for millipedes, natural predators like ground beetles, birds, and certain small mammals can help keep millipede numbers down. Avoid using broad-spectrum insecticides that could harm these helpful animals.
Mechanical and Physical Control
- Exclusion: Seal cracks, gaps, and openings around doors, windows, and utility lines. Install door sweeps to keep them from coming inside.
- Trapping and Removal: Use sticky traps in problem areas and sweep or vacuum any millipedes you find indoors.
- Physical Barriers: Consider installing edging or barriers around garden beds to reduce movement into your home.
Chemical Control (Last Resort)
If non-chemical methods are not successful in controlling the millipede population, carefully use insecticides labeled for millipede management.
Always call us first at GC Termite Control for professional help: (619) 421 - 2101 or visit GCTermiteControl.com. We have the expertise to recommend the safest and most effective treatments.
- Selective Application: Target only cracks, crevices, and harborages rather than broadly spraying.
- Reduced-Risk Options: If chemicals are needed, opt for those labeled “reduced-risk” and follow all label instructions.
- Perimeter Treatments: Treat around foundations and entry points, being careful to prevent drift that could harm beneficial organisms.
Education and Outreach
- Inform Residents or Staff: Teach everyone about moisture reduction, proper sanitation, and sealing entry points.
- Instructional Materials: Provide guides on millipede biology, prevention, and IPM best practices.
Adaptive Management
- Continuous Monitoring: Recheck high-risk areas periodically and note changes in millipede activity.
- Adjust Strategies: Refine or replace methods based on how well they work and whether conditions change (e.g., rainfall or seasons).
