Background Information
Most of these arthropods are found in dark, moist areas feeding on organic plant material or other arthropods. All these nuisance pests, including centipedes and millipedes, are covered under our general insect package.
- The common centipede in Colorado has more prominent legs than that of millipedes and has one set of legs per body segment. They have flat bodies and are elongated and have one set of legs per body segment unlike millipedes that have two sets of legs per body segment. Most of the common centipedes are not able to break the skin if they bite and are not aggressive towards people.
- The common millipede in Colorado measures 1 to 1 ½ inches long, with a round and elongated tiny black body. They resemble tiny black worms. They will curl into a tight coil when they are disturbed and are easily distinguished from centipedes by having two sets of legs per body segment. They do not bite and are not harmful to people.
- Pill bugs are very common scavengers found under rotting logs, mulch beds, inside window wells or basements. They are also commonly known as “roly-polys” and are small gray crustaceans that are completely harmless.
These common nuisance pests do not cause any structural damage and most types, excluding the desert centipede are completely harmless to people, but they can become unwelcome due to extreme numbers inside your garage, shop, basement or business. The millipedes and pill bugs feed on decaying plant materials and need a moist environment. Most centipedes are predators and feed off other arthropods but also require moisture. Typical infestations occur during a period of high precipitation and in Colorado this is generally seasonal (spring and fall).
Treatments for Centipedes and Millipedes
NOCO Pest and Wildlife Control treatment techniques can be broken down into direct and indirect approaches. The direct approach is to address the moisture concern. Most of these arthropods are moving to parts of a basement where it is more humid or has moisture; therefore, if you can decrease or eliminate the moisture you will discourage their presence. These arthropods will quickly dry out and die in a dry climate. The use of fans can greatly aid in eliminating an infestation. Indirectly, we can complete a detailed interior crack and crevice treatment to target the arthropods. On the exterior, we can apply a granular insecticide and treat the foundation to target the arthropods. This service will decrease the population and provide quick relief if you have an infestation.
Service Expectations
In this case the millipedes, centipedes and pill bugs are a symptom of a greater problem: moisture. The key is always prevention, so limiting humidity and moisture in areas like your basement will make it unattractive for these arthropods. An insecticidal treatment will greatly decrease the presence of these pests and can even eliminate them for a short period of time. For chronic infestations, preventative services might be advised. These pest invaders are included in our general insect service, which includes spiders, centipedes, millipedes, crickets, earwigs, and pill bugs.
