Many people are noticing an unusual increase in millipede activity around their homes and gardens this year. This article explores the biology of millipedes and the environmental conditions influencing their numbers, offering insights into their recent prevalence.
Understanding Millipedes
Millipedes are arthropods, not insects, with two pairs of legs on most body segments. They are slow-moving and non-aggressive, preferring damp, dark outdoor habitats like leaf litter, mulch, or rotting logs. As detritivores, they primarily eat decaying organic matter, breaking down natural debris and enriching soil. Millipedes are harmless to humans, pets, and homes; they do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases. While beneficial for ecosystems, they can become a nuisance when appearing in large numbers, especially when seeking shelter indoors.
Environmental Factors Driving Population Surges
The increase in millipede populations often aligns with specific environmental and weather conditions. Heavy rainfall and persistent high humidity are significant contributors, as millipedes flourish in moist environments. Excessive rain saturates outdoor habitats, driving millipedes to seek drier shelter, often leading them into homes. Both too much rain and periods of drought can prompt this migration as they search for more favorable moisture levels.
An abundant supply of decaying organic matter directly supports larger millipede populations. Wet conditions promote rapid decomposition of organic matter, their primary food source. A rich and readily available food supply allows more millipedes to survive and reproduce, contributing to a substantial increase in their numbers. This decomposition also creates the damp, dark environments they prefer for breeding.
Milder winters and warmer temperatures throughout the year also play a role in population dynamics. Warmer conditions enhance the survival of millipede eggs and overwintering adults, increasing individuals for spring reproduction. Elevated temperatures accelerate their biological processes, potentially leading to faster development and more generations within a given period.
Habitat disruption, such as new construction or landscaping projects, can displace millipedes from their established outdoor living spaces. When their usual hiding spots are disturbed, these creatures may move into new territories, including residential areas, making their presence more noticeable. These cumulative environmental factors explain the heightened presence of millipedes in certain years.
Managing Millipedes Around Your Home
When millipedes become a nuisance around your home, several practical strategies can help manage their presence. Prevention and environmental modification are often the most effective approaches. Sealing entry points is a primary step; inspect and seal cracks, gaps, and openings in foundations, around windows, and doors. Installing door sweeps on exterior doors also blocks their access.
Controlling moisture around the home is equally important, as millipedes are attracted to dampness. Ensure proper drainage by cleaning gutters and downspouts, and direct water away from the foundation. Repair any leaky pipes, outdoor spigots, or air conditioning units that may create wet areas. Reducing humidity in basements and crawl spaces with adequate ventilation or dehumidifiers can also deter them.
Modifying their outdoor habitat near your home can significantly reduce their appeal. Remove decaying leaves, grass clippings, and excessive mulch from around the foundation. Woodpiles and other organic debris should be stored away from the house and ideally off the ground. Maintaining a clear area between vegetation and the foundation, perhaps with a gravel barrier, can create a less hospitable environment.
For millipedes found indoors, manual removal is often sufficient. They typically do not survive long inside due to a lack of moisture and food. Vacuuming them up is an effective and easy way to remove them. While chemical treatments are generally not necessary given their harmless nature and the effectiveness of cultural controls, professional pest control may be considered as a last resort in severe cases.