If you’ve ever spotted a long, many-legged creature crawling across your porch or basement floor, chances are you’ve encountered a millipede. While they may look a little unsettling, millipedes are usually more of a nuisance than a threat. Still, when they invade homes and businesses in large numbers, they can cause serious headaches for property owners across Polk County and the greater Central Florida area.
At Total Pest Solutions in Auburndale, FL, we regularly help homeowners manage occasional invaders like millipedes. Here’s what you need to know about these “thousand-leggers,” why they show up in and around homes, and—most importantly—how to keep them out.
What Are Millipedes?
Millipedes are arthropods, which means they have an exoskeleton, jointed legs, and reproduce by laying eggs. They belong to a group called myriapods and are sometimes called diplopods. Despite their nickname “thousand-leggers,” most millipedes have between 40 and 400 legs, with some rare species reaching over 700.
They’re often confused with centipedes, but here’s the difference:
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Millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment (centipedes have one).
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Millipedes eat decaying organic matter while centipedes are predators that hunt insects.
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Millipedes move slowly and curl into a ball when disturbed; centipedes move fast and can bite.
Millipedes aren’t dangerous, but some species release irritating secretions when handled.
Why Millipedes Invade Homes
Millipedes thrive in damp, shady environments like mulch beds, compost piles, under rocks, and beneath decaying logs. In Florida lawns, one of their favorite hiding spots is the thatch layer beneath the grass—the dense mat of roots and organic debris that stays cool and moist even during hot weather.
This behavior makes millipedes extremely difficult to eradicate. Even after applying treatments, many survive by burrowing deep into thatch or soil, only to re-emerge when conditions change.
Millipede invasions usually happen:
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After heavy rain, when saturated soil forces them upward.
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During hot, dry spells, when they move indoors searching for moisture.
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Through tiny entry points in foundations, windows, doors, and crawlspaces.
Indoors, they don’t live long, but their sheer numbers can overwhelm homeowners.
Prevention: How to Keep Millipedes Out
The key to millipede control is reducing moisture and limiting organic matter around the foundation. Here are some expert steps you can take:
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Maintain a dry barrier: Keep a 12–18 inch vegetation-free zone around your foundation. Use gravel or stone instead of mulch.
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Limit mulch and yard debris: Keep mulch under 2–4 inches and avoid piling grass clippings or leaves against the house.
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Address moisture sources: Fix leaking hoses, clogged gutters, and AC drip lines.
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Seal cracks and gaps: Install door sweeps, caulk around foundations and windows, and screen crawlspace vents.
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Improve ventilation: Cover crawlspace soil with plastic and ensure proper airflow to keep humidity low.
What to Do If Millipedes Get Inside
If millipedes make their way indoors, don’t worry—they won’t breed or infest your home permanently. Here’s what you can do:
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Sweep or vacuum them up and dispose of them in sealed bags.
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Wear gloves if handling directly, since some secrete irritating fluids.
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Return them outdoors where they can continue breaking down organic matter in the ecosystem.
Why Professional Help Matters
Because millipedes hide deep in the thatch and soil, surface-level treatments often don’t reach them. This makes complete eradication nearly impossible without a comprehensive pest management approach that combines moisture control, habitat reduction, and carefully applied treatments.
At Total Pest Solutions, our team specializes in tackling millipede infestations. We treat around your foundation, identify and correct moisture problems, and provide long-term strategies to keep these pests from coming back.
Final Thoughts
Millipedes are helpful outdoors, recycling nutrients back into Florida’s soil. But when they wander inside, or start emerging from the thatch by the dozens, they become an unwelcome nuisance.
With professional pest control and smart home maintenance, you can keep millipedes out for good. If you’re dealing with persistent millipede problems, Total Pest Solutions in Auburndale is here to help—with proven treatments and expert advice tailored to Florida homeowners.
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