MILLIPEDES
· Millipedes normally live
outdoors where they feed on damp and decaying wood
and vegetable matter, as well as on tender roots
and green leaves on the ground.
· Over watering or continuous or heavy rains
raise the water level in the soil forcing the millipedes
out of their natural abode, sending them in search
of shelter elsewhere.
· If this situation occurs in wooded areas,
or areas where the soil is filled with decaying
vegetation, masses of millipedes may emerge seeking
shelter within homes and buildings. A decrease in
activity will occur when the weather dries out.
· Millipedes overwinter in the soil near
the foundations of dwellings and under debris near
the trunks of trees. Invasions of dwellings are
associated with the search for a humid site for
overwintering.
· Their slow crawling, rounded bodies have
two pairs of legs on each body segment except for
the first three which have but one pair of legs
on each segment. Millipedes protect themselves by
means of glands which secrete an unpleasant odor.
Effective control measures would include the following:
· An exterior perimeter treatment is the
best method of chemical control because it provides
a thorough soaking of the soil area around the foundation,
as well as, the building foundation itself.
· If treatment inside a dwelling is necessary,
damp hiding places (particularly in the basement),
under the washing machine, around sump pumps, in
bathrooms, etc. may be treated successfully with
an indoor insecticide labeled for millipedes.
· The following non-chemical tactics would
also increase the effectiveness of any pesticide
barrier treatment.
1. Dethatch lawn areas – Millipedes thrive
in the dense thatch layer of plant material just
above the soil surface.
2. Remove Debris – Rocks, heavy mulch, boards,
etc. prove sheltered damp hiding places for millipedes.
3. Avoid Over Watering - Water lawn areas during
early morning to allow the grass to dry during the
day instead of remaining wet through the night.
Your confidence in J R G Termite and Pest Control
is greatly appreciated. If we can be of further
service to you, please contact our office to schedule
an appointment.
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