The Texas millipede is 1 to 1 1/2 inches long with a with slender, tubular brown body. It moves slowly in a wave-like motion and eats decaying leaves and other dead plant matter.
It is an arthropod of the class Diplopoda, meaning two legs. The Latin part of the name—Milli—means thousand, but they do not have that many legs. The millipede is one of the oldest known land animals and, in prehistoric times, grew to over six feet long. Modern millipedes are a lot smaller, except for the Giant African Millipede, which can reach lengths of 11 to 15 inches. They live for one to ten years, depending on the species.
If millipedes invade your indoor space, hire a professional pest control company like YardDoc. An invasion is a sign that other pests such as asian beetles and carpenter ants are attracted to your property and able to get inside!
You can tell the difference by leg count. A centipede has only one pair of legs per body segment, whereas millipedes have two pairs per segment. Centipedes bite and release a venom that can be a health threat to young children or people with venom allergies.
Millipedes don’t bite, aren’t poisonous, and don’t pose a threat to humans. However, some species secrete chemicals to protect themselves from predators. The secretions can cause skin irritation. In most cases, however, they will roll into a ball and rely on their hard shell for protection.
We offer holistic solutions to stop a millipede invasion, and other bugs like cockroaches before they become a problem.
Millipedes are attracted to dark, moist, cool environments. Outdoors, you’ll find them in mulched areas, compost piles, under leaf matter, and in the rotting logs on which they feed. But sometimes the weather in Austin becomes uncomfortably hot and dry, or too wet after heavy rains. And great numbers of them may literally invade your home or office. This is when they become a nuisance to people.
Millipedes have long, thin bodies and can fit into tiny cracks and spaces, often getting into homes that are otherwise considered insect-proof. When they come up against a structure, they will climb up the walls and go into roof spaces and sometimes gain access though lighting or other electrical fixtures. Fortunately, your home does not provide the decaying plant matter they eat, and therefore, they will not live long indoors.
Because the millipede is a common nuisance in Austin, prevention is your best remedy. YardDoc can help, with our pest control services.
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