Millipedes infestations are rare in California houses. But, if they do get inside your house, millipedes can be a nuisance. And if millipedes invade your California home, you probably ask: “How to get rid of millipedes?”
You can get rid of millipedes with a broom and dustpan. But, if you want, you can vacuum them up.
California Millipedes: Overview
Millipedes are nuisance pests in California. As long as they stay in your garden, they can be beneficial. These pests are attracted to moist places and occasionally wander into houses, similar to earwigs.
The name “millipede” means “thousand legs,” but millipedes never have that many legs. In fact, millipedes have about 90 pairs of legs, which is still impressive but not one thousand.
Quick Facts About Millipedes in California
Millipedes cause no damage to the house, and they don’t spread diseases like cockroaches and don’t damage your house like termites. And millipedes will never try to take over your house as ants try on occasion.
Their bodies are cylindrical. They are mostly black or brown or black in color, but you might see some orange or red. Millipedes feed on rotting, decaying organic matter such as rotting leaves and wood.
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Are there millipedes in California?
There are millipedes in California. The millipedes species found in California are:
- Greenhouse millipede (Orthomorpha gracilis)
- Small brown common millipede (Diploiulus luscus)
- Bulb millipede (Nopoiulus minutus)
How to get rid of millipedes in California?
The best way to get rid of California millipedes is to keep them out of the house. You can stop millipedes from getting into your house by sealing cracks, crevices and openings. They often get into the house around the foundation, plumbing, and wiring, so pay close attention to these areas.
Another way to get rid of millipedes in California is to use dehumidifiers. Since millipedes are attracted to moist places, keeping the air dry in your house will keep these pests out. If you don’t have a dehumidifier, you can use fans for the same purpose.
The moisture from any leaks will attract millipedes, so it’s best to repair leaky pipes of faucets to keep these creepy crawlers out of the house.
You can get rid of millipedes by removing the food source. Since they feed on decaying organic matter, such as rotting wood and leaves, you should clean out organic debris from gutters. A clean gutter will drain correctly, making it less attractive to millipedes.
Remove piled-up woodpiles or mulch that store moisture and attract these pests, and keep your yard clean by regularly removing dead plants.
Why do I have millipedes in my California house?
Millipedes often look for moisture or shelter in California houses. You may find these harmless pests in dark or quiet parts of the house.
Although millipedes are naturally attracted to damp, dark places, you might find them in your home in California. But, mostly, you will find them in areas with decaying organic matter.
Mulch piles, leaf piles, compost, and rotting logs are common millipedes hiding places. They favor quiet, moist areas in the house like bathrooms, attics, basements or near your washing machine.
How to get rid of millipedes in my California house?
You can easily get rid of millipedes in your house in California if you seal and caulk cracks and crevices, create a bug barrier, remove their hiding place, keep the gutters free of decaying organic matter, and repair leaky pipes and faucets.
How to get rid of millipedes naturally?
You can get rid of millipedes naturally using diatomaceous earth. It is a fine, chalk-like powder, which is nothing more than the fossilized remains of single-celled aquatic microorganisms.
Diatomaceous earth is found naturally and used as an organic insecticide. It effectively eliminates millipedes and other pests such as roaches, ants, bed bugs, earwigs, spiders, slugs, snails, silverfish and fleas.
Boric acid is another way to get rid of millipedes naturally. It’s causing millipedes to dehydrate slowly. But you shouldn’t use boric acid around children and pets.
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Are millipedes in California poisonous?
California millipedes are not poisonous. This worm-like pest has glands that can produce irritating fluids that may cause an allergic reaction in some people.
Are California millipedes pests or not?
Millipedes can become pests if they invade your house, but they aren’t particularly harmful. Unlike cockroaches, termites, ants, bed bugs, fleas, and mosquitoes, millipedes are pretty harmless, even if they get inside your house.
Millipedes don’t sting, bite, contaminate food, transmit diseases, poison or destroy the wood structure of your house.
Types of Millipedes in California
Of the close to 1000 species of millipedes in the U.S., many of them live in California. The North American millipede and the Sierra luminous millipede are found across California and many other parts of the United States. Although it won’t stay alive long inside your house, you might find Greenhouse millipedes in your California home.
How to get rid of millipedes in the bathroom?
You can manually remove millipedes from the bathroom. Don’t squish them since they might release a foul odor. To remove millipedes, use a broom and a dustpan. Another option is to vacuum them up.
What attracts millipedes to your house?
Moisture attracts millipedes to your house. Millipedes could enter your home when weather conditions aren’t ideal outside. They can invade your house in large numbers via expansion joints, cracks, crevices, wall voids, or doorways.
Millipedes don’t stay alive in a house long. Your house doesn’t have enough moisture to keep millipedes alive for longer than a day or two. If millipedes infest your home, it may be a sign that they are breeding close to your house.
How to get rid of millipedes in the bedroom?
You can get rid of millipedes in the bedroom. The easiest way to eliminate millipedes from your bedroom is to either vacuum or sweep them up with a broom and a dustpan.
Are California millipedes dangerous?
Millipedes are not dangerous to humans, but their defensive fluids are unpleasant. Some people have reported skin irritation when handling millipedes.
Luckily millipedes don’t bite like fleas, contaminate your food like ants, carry disease-causing bacteria like cockroaches, or feed on the wood frame of your house. What’s more, millipedes don’t bite or sting, making them one of the most harmless garden pests around the house.
Are millipedes harmful to dogs?
Millipedes aren’t harmful to dogs because they aren’t toxic and don’t bite or sting. But the foul smell from the crushed body of millipedes could result in an allergic reaction or discomfort in dogs.
