Millipede Menace: Your Complete Guide To Prevention And Control Around Your Columbia Home
November 22, 2023
A lot of Columbia residents find millipedes scary-looking, and there are many rumors flying around that can make them seem a lot more frightening than they are. The good news is that these many-legged arthropods are normally little more than a nuisance, although they can be a big nuisance when they invade your home in large numbers. Millipede control in Columbia from Go-Forth Pest Control can keep these pests out of your home.
Understanding Millipedes: Anatomy And Behavior
Millipedes are long, segmented, cylindrically shaped invertebrates that look a lot like worms from a distance. However, they are not worms. They're more closely related to crustaceans like lobsters and shrimp.
Though their name means "thousand legs," no millipede actually has a thousand legs. Some of them may have several hundred, but not quite a thousand. Millipedes have two leg pairs per body segment. Generally speaking, the longer the millipede, the more legs it has.
Millipedes have a very hard exoskeleton that doubles as armor when they're threatened. This is why they roll up into a ball whenever they perceive a threat. These armored arthropods are also detritivores. This means they like to eat decomposing things like rotting leaves, decaying fruit, and dead wood. So Columbia millipedes help the ecosystem by speeding up the process of decomposition.
Debunking Millipede Myths: Friend Or Foe?
Most of the myths that surround millipedes come from the fact that they're often confused with centipedes. For instance, many people think millipedes bite. This is not true. Millipedes cannot bite or sting. It's centipedes that have a venomous bite.
Many Columbia residents also think that millipedes carry diseases, but again, this is not true. Millipedes might be dirty, just like any other animal that spends all its time crawling around on the ground, but they do not carry or spread any human disease inside their bodies.
Eco-Friendly Solutions: Preventing Millipedes Naturally
The reality is millipedes are just annoying. They stink, and they might creep you out, but they're not going to hurt you. However, that doesn't mean you want them running roughshod through your house. This can stink up your home and leave you having to clean up dead millipedes all the time. No one wants that.
Unfortunately, under certain circumstances, millipedes can and do invade homes in large numbers, but there are ways to prevent this. To keep millipedes outside where they belong, take measures like:
- Seal cracks and holes in your home's exterior.
- Install door sweeps to keep millipedes from crawling under doors.
- Take care of moisture problems like poor drainage or condensation.
- Remove leaf litter and other potential millipede food from your yard.
- Clean clogged gutters, as these provide both food and moisture for millipedes.
Taking these measures can help prevent a millipede infestation by making your house less attractive to these annoying pests. However, inclement weather like droughts or unseasonable cold snaps can drive them inside anyway. If this happens, they may have a hard time finding their way back out or being motivated to do so. That's where we come in.
Professional Millipede Elimination: Why Expertise Matters
Here at Go-Forth Pest Control, we offer safe and effective millipede pest control for infestations large and small. Whether you are trying to stop a steady stream of millipedes that just won't seem to let up or are having to get rid of a large population that suddenly invaded all at once, we can help ensure that your millipede infestation is the thing of the past.
So don't waste your time with sprays and other ineffective store-bought solutions. Give us a call or visit our contact page to set up your pest control inspection today.
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