Although often mistaken for one another, centipedes and millipedes are, in fact, different arthropods. Despite their differences, there’s one thing true about both centipedes and millipedes: you do not want them coming into your Denver home. And when the weather begins to turn cold come autumn, that’s exactly what they like to do. Centipedes and millipedes are seasonal invaders, which means they spend most of their time outside during the more temperate weather. However, when the weather turns cold, they come into our homes seeking refuge from the elements. As the colder weather sets in, you should know some prevention techniques to better protect your Denver home and keep these many-legged nuisance pests out of it.
What Do Centipedes & Millipedes Look Like?
Despite being frequently mistaken for one another, centipedes and millipedes do look different from each other. While both have segmented bodies, centipedes’ bodies are more elongated with one set of legs per segment. Also, centipedes have sharp, venom-filled claws on their front segment that they use to paralyze prey.
Millipedes, on the other hand, have rigid bodies similar to that of a worm. Also, rather than having one set of legs per segment, millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment. Millipedes are also much slower moving than centipedes.
While outside, both millipedes and centipedes prefer to live in cool, damp areas such as under rocks and fallen trees or in leaf piles and woodpiles. Once they come inside, they will seek out similarly cool damp places such as in cluttered basements, cellars, or crawl spaces. Oftentimes, we will unknowingly bring these pests in ourselves in firewood, potted plants, or cardboard boxes.
Are Centipedes & Millipedes Dangerous?
Despite the fact that centipedes are venomous, neither centipedes nor millipedes are considered to be threatening to humans or our pets. That’s because the venom from a centipede is not potent enough to affect us, as its purpose is for stunning small prey for the centipede to feed upon. As for millipedes, they are not venomous at all. However, they have been known to cause skin rashes on certain people after handling them. Because of this, you should try not to handle either centipedes or millipedes should you come across them in your home.
How To Prevent Centipedes & Millipedes?
Centipede and millipede prevention starts and ends with moisture control. Although there are other steps to be taken, the most important thing you can do to keep these seasonal pests out of your home is to ensure the moisture levels in your home never get too high. To keep centipedes and millipedes out of your home, you should:
- Use dehumidifiers to keep moisture levels low around your home.
- Keep basements, cellars, and crawl spaces free of debris.
- Check cardboard boxes, potted plants, and firewood for centipedes and millipedes before bringing them into your home.
- Remove items in your yard that might provide a home to centipedes and millipedes such as fallen trees and rocks.
- Keep wood piles away from your home’s exterior.
- Seal cracks in the foundation of your home.
- Install door sweeps under exterior doors.
For More Advice & Assistance
If you have any further questions regarding centipedes or millipedes, or if you require assistance in dealing with an infestation, contact the professionals here at White Knight Pest Control right away. Additionally, ask about our ongoing pest control plans so that you don’t need to worry about new seasonal pests with the changing of each and every season. Instead, we’ll make sure your home stays pest-free all year long. So, don’t let centipedes and millipedes take over your home. Give us a call today.