The weather isn’t always easy to deal with in Salt Lake City. It can bring a host of problems, including making pests get into homes. When the weather becomes unpleasant, both centipedes and millipedes can become home invaders, seeking shelter from the weather outside. While these pests may have similar names, and many similar habits, there are a few differences Salt Lake City homeowners should be aware of. What are these critters and what dangers, if any, do they pose? Let’s go over how to distinguish centipedes and millipedes from each other and what their presence means for your Salt Lake City home.
What are Centipedes And Millipedes And How Can They Affect Your Salt Lake City Home?
Both centipedes and millipedes are nuisance pests at best, but no homeowner wants them on their property. Centipedes, or “hundred-leggers,” can have over a hundred pairs of legs. Long and worm-like in shape, with a yellowish or brown color, centipedes can grow up to 6” long. Centipedes are carnivorous, typically preying on spiders and flies. Humans don’t often see these pests due to their nocturnal nature and speedy movements. Homeowners won’t usually notice they have an infestation unless they happen to spot one of these pests by chance. You may find them hanging out in places with a lot of moisture, like damp basements or bathrooms.
Millipedes are a little different. Known instead as “thousand-leggers,” they have many more pairs of legs than centipedes—up to 333 pairs. Also long with a worm-like shape, millipedes are black, brown, or red in color, while some have mottled patterns. They are nocturnal like their centipede counterparts, but they eat plants, wood, and dead insects. You will usually find them hiding out in places with a lot of moisture, just like centipedes. Millipedes have a particular fondness for decaying vegetation, such as piles of leaves, flower-bed mulches, or garbage.
Centipedes pose some hazards to humans, as their jaws are venomous, which can pose biting problems. But these bites are not life-threatening. Meanwhile, millipedes can cause mild rashes when they bite. And they can give off a bad-smelling fluid along the sides of their bodies, sometimes causing blisters in humans.
How To Prevent Centipedes And Millipedes From Entering Your Salt Lake City Home
- Cut down on excess moisture in and around your home. If you have a damp basement, invest in a dehumidifier.
- Get rid of unnecessary wood and vegetation, such as grass clippings and piles of leaves. Mow your lawn regularly and store firewood away from your exterior and up off the ground.
- Seal any small holes or cracks in your walls to keep centipedes and millipedes from sneaking inside your house directly.
- Contact White Knight Pest Control for more advice or assistance on keeping centipedes and millipedes away from your property.
White Knight Pest Control Can Assist With Centipedes And Millipedes In Your Salt Lake City Home
Centipedes and millipedes are attracted to similar things, and they can enter your home for similar reasons, in the same ways. The professionals at White Knight Pest Control have the tools and experience to locate these nuisance pests and get rid of them and keep them gone for good. Give us a call today to find out about our year-round centipede and millipede control options to help keep your Salt Lake City property safe from these creepy little critters.