Millipedes
Characteristics
- Despite their name, no millipede is known to have 1,000 legs
- Millipedes range in size from 2 millimeters to over 11 inches
- Most millipedes feed on decaying plant matter but some species prey on earthworms and small insects
Millipedes prefer to live outdoors in moist soil but frequently venture indoors where they can be found in almost every room of the house. Millipedes have two pairs of legs on each segment where centipedes only have one pair per segment. They are commonly found hiding under boxes or anything that will provide them cover. Outdoors millipedes can be found under mulch and rocks where they search of organic matter to feed on.
Millipedes often migrate during the fall, presumably in search of warm places to spend the winter. It is during this time and after rainfalls that millipedes are most likely to enter your home. Be sure to seal any cracks and openings to prevent pests from entering your home and talk to a pest control expert