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Millipedes, Centipedes and Sowbugs Fact Sheet No

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Millipedes, Centipedes and Sowbugs Fact Sheet No Millipedes, Centipedes and Sowbugs Fact Sheet No. 5.552 Insect Series|Home and Garden by W.S. Cranshaw* Millipedes, centipedes and sowbugs the bodies that remain. Remove debris and Quick Facts are many-legged relatives of insects. They other favorable habitats from around building generally are found in small numbers foundations to help reduce problems. Seal • Millipedes, centipedes, in damp locations around the yard. or caulk openings around the foundation to sowbugs and pillbugs are Occasionally, they become unusu ally reduce future millipede problems. minor nuisance pests that abundant or move into homes, where Where problems are persistent and tend to move into houses they may cause consid erable concern to severe, insecticides may help reduce during brief periods in the fall homeowners. invasions. These may be applied around the or spring. base of the building foundation out into lawn areas. Pyrethroid insecticides (e.g., • Millipedes, pillbugs and Millipedes sowbugs also may feed The most common millipedes are dark on tender seedlings in brown and reach 1 to 1 1/2 inches when full greenhouses and gardens. grown. They are round and elongated, with many small legs. A common description is • Control is rarely necessary. If “little black worms crawling in the base ment required, it primarily should win dows.” When dead or disturbed, they tend involve mois ture control to curl into a tight coil. because these arthropods are Millipedes do not bite or pose any danger susceptible to drying. to humans. They feed on rotting organic matter such as leaves and wood and rarely feed on tender green leaves and roots. They spend almost all their time in moist areas, such as under rocks or logs and in lawn thatch. Move ment into houses often is sudden and sporad ic. Most millipede movement takes place in September and October and again in midspring. Inva sions, usually into cellars, often take place shortly after a period of wet weather and end as suddenly as Figure 1: Common millipedes (Allajulus londenensis). they start. Because millipedes require high moisture, they usually die in a home within a day or two. Chronic problems are associated with damp conditions. Measures taken to dry out moist areas usually are sufficient. The hard body of the millipede, however, remains intact for a considerable time after it is dead. Because millipedes cause no damage in homes other than a minor annoyance, the best way to handle infestations is to wait a few © Colorado State University days for the problem to subside, then vacuum Extension. 1/00. Revised 12/13. www.ext.colostate.edu *Colorado State University Extension entomologist Figure 2: A common species of millipede found and professor, bioagricultural sciences and pest in gardens. management. 12/2013 bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, Centipedes permethrin) are recommended for this use. In general appearance, centipedes Insecticides with these active ingredients superficially resemble millipedes. However, are widely available at nurseries, sold under there are important differences. Centipedes various trade names. have one pair of legs per body segment; Usually only shaded sides of the home millipedes appear to have two pairs on need treat ment. Whole yard treatments most segments. A centipede’s legs are are unnecessary and not recom mended. usually quite prominent. Centipedes are far However, most sod webworm and white more active than millipedes, particularly grub treatments applied to lawns will also the common house centipede. Most are control millipedes. flattened and elongated. They feed on small When millipedes damage garden plants insects and other arthropods. several practices can limit injury. Ripening Centipedes usually are less common fruit should be lifted off the soil, on mulch in homes than millipedes. However, they Figure 3: Young millipedes in fruit. or other surfaces. Fruit that is overly (Photo by W. Cranshaw.) may be far more conspicuous, particularly ripe may be left in the garden to divert the giant desert centipede that can reach 6 and concentrate feeding by millipedes. inches in length. Similarly, millipedes can be concentrated In homes, centipedes are found most under fruit rinds or moistened newspapers. frequently in the morning trapped in bath- The millipedes that are found at these sites tubs or wash basins. They also may be seen can then be collected. Garden baits that darting for cover when a light is turned contain carbaryl (Sevin) may also be used on in a dark room. Occa sionally, a startled to control millipedes in gardens. centipede may run at the person entering the room, giving the incorrect impression Duff Millipede that it is attacking. The duff millipede is an unusual species Except for the largest species, centipedes found in some foothills areas. It reaches cannot bite through skin, so hazard to only 1/8 inch. It is covered with fine bristles Figure 4: Millipedes curl in defense and when humans is remote. Bites are extremely rare, dead. (Photo by W. Cranshaw.) and has a tuft of hairs protruding from the because centipedes are light shy and bite hind end. Superficially, it resembles tiny only when being picked up or crushed. carpet beetle larvae. Close inspection shows The bite of the largest species is reported to it has far more legs than do carpet beetles. cause a sharp, temporary pain, similar to a Invasions can involve hundreds of bee sting. individuals, which crawl over walls, floors Control is similar to that for milli- and counters. Often they are concentrated pedes – wait out the problem and control near areas of high moisture, such as moisture sources in and around the home. bathrooms, around kitchen sinks, and near Infes ta tions usually involve only a few outdoor hot tubs and faucets. individuals. Extreme situations in homes Although sometimes a significant may require insecticides as indicated nuisance, they do not reproduce or survive for millipedes. Interior applica tions of long in a home. Instead, they develop insecticides are not recommended. outdoors on decaying plant matter, fungi Figure 5: Duff millipedes. and algae. Prevent invasions by sealing the structure. No effective insecticides have been identified to reduce invasions of duff millipedes. It is suggested to keep the area around foundations clean of cover and sources of moisture. Figure 6: Giant desert centipede. Sowbugs and Pillbugs Sowbugs and pillbugs (roly-polys) are small, gray crustaceans usually found outdoors under rocks or other cover. They feed on decaying vegetable matter and occasionally small plants. They do not bite and are harmless to humans. During some times of the year, particularly after extended wet spring weather, sowbugs and pillbugs may move into homes. Their survival is often shorter than for millipedes and Figure 9: A pillbug (rolled-up) and sowbug. (Photo by Whitney Cranshaw.) centipedes. Because of this and the minor annoyance they cause, control generally Figure 7: Stone centipede. (Photo by W. is unnecessary. Controls effective for Cranshaw.) millipedes and centipedes also are effective for sowbugs and pillbugs. Figure 8: Pillbug, also knows as ‘Roly-Poly’. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned..
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