Dealing with Centipedes and Millipedes in Massachusetts Homes

Summer in Massachusetts is in full swing, and residents are likely noticing an uptick in bug activity around and inside their homes. Longer days and warmer weather stimulate pests to reproduce, hunt for food, and seek shelter.

Consequently, summertime is peak pest season. While ants, wasps, and other common bugs in Massachusetts are thriving, homeowners will likely notice a much more unsettling visitor at this time of year: centipedes and millipedes.

While some people encourage leaving centipedes and millipedes alone because they eat other bugs, these insects can be problematic themselves — and most homeowners do not want to share space with these unsettling, jointed arthropods.

Here’s how to navigate the challenges of common bugs in Massachusetts homes, including effective strategies and preventative measures to manage infestations and maintain a pest-free living environment for you and your family.

Centipede vs. Millipede: How to Tell the Difference

Before you can approach a centipede or millipede problem, you will need to identify what has invaded your home. Massachusetts is the native habitat of numerous species of both centipedes and millipedes, which means that you could be facing any of a number of possibilities.

The simplest way to tell these two arthropods apart is by their legs. Centipedes will have one set of legs per body segment, but millipedes will have two. This is why millipedes get their name (“thousand legs”)—they have more legs than centipedes (“hundred legs”) of the same size.

You may also notice that millipedes look more like they have a rounded shell, with their legs going downward to hold them up. On the other hand, centipedes often seem like their legs are coming out sideways from a flat body while they scurry on their bellies.

Are Millipedes Dangerous?

Both centipedes and millipedes use biting as their primary form of defense, which is the main reason homeowners should consider removing them from the house — especially if they have pets or small children.

Millipedes’ saliva can be irritating, causing mild redness and blistering if a human is bitten. On the other hand, centipedes are directly venomous, regardless of species. Humans can expect a bite to cause pain similar to a bee sting in some cases, with accompanying redness and swelling.

Keeping Centipedes Out of the House

Millipedes and centipedes thrive in dark, damp areas of the home because they are nocturnal, so expect to see them in places like the bathroom, laundry room, and basement. To address an infestation, remove their ideal habitats and food sources. Homeowners can accomplish this by:

• Fixing moisture problems, such as leaky sinks
• Decreasing the humidity in the home (e.g., using dehumidifiers)
• Leaving space between the wall and items (such as towel racks) so the bugs cannot hide
• Keeping grass short and trimmed away from the house so they do not have a safe path from the outside to the home’s walls
• Dusting to remove feeder insects or seek separate pest control for them

It is best not to smash centipedes or millipedes, as the fluid inside their body will typically cause stains that are difficult to remove from surfaces, and many put out a smell similar to a stink bug.

In addition, trying to grab or crush an arthropod can leave humans vulnerable to a bite. This is why using a professional pest control service to remove centipedes and millipedes from the home is a good complement to the actions you as a homeowner can take to reduce the appeal of your property.

While professionals may opt to use insecticides to address your centipede problem, especially if other bugs are also getting into the house at the same time, this is not the only potential solution.

Experts can create a barrier around the home using diatomaceous earth, which will dry out a centipede’s or millipede’s outer shell so that it cannot molt and eventually dies.

Alternatively, millipede traps, boric acid, and even simply closing entry points can be enough to end this home invasion. The experts can help you identify how these nuisance bugs are getting in and the best strategy to get them out again.

Leave Centipede Extermination to the Pros

Seeing a centipede occasionally — especially in the bathroom — is normal, but if you keep encountering these crawling invaders, it is time to call a pest control service.

The experts at Spartan Animal & Pest Control can provide a comprehensive plan to remove common bugs in Massachusetts from your home using targeted approaches customized to your situation. Contact Spartan to schedule a visit from a pest control pro for further guidance so you can enjoy your home bug-free.