What to do about millipedes in your home

Millipedes are a regular nuisance for many homeowners in the Miami Valley, especially during periods of heavy rain or when the ground becomes overly saturated. These slow moving, segmented pests are not harmful to people, but they often invade homes in large numbers. Their appearance alone can be stressful, and repeated activity usually points to moisture issues around or inside the home. Understanding their behavior, the risks they bring, and the early signs of an infestation helps you take action before millipedes become an ongoing problem.

The problems millipedes create inside your home

Millipedes do not bite, sting, or spread disease, and they do not damage wood or structures. However, they become a significant nuisance when they enter homes in large groups. Millipedes prefer damp, dark places, and they gather in basements, crawl spaces, utility rooms, garages, and laundry areas. When their outdoor environment becomes too wet, they migrate indoors in search of dryness.

Although millipedes are mostly harmless, they can cause sanitation issues when they show up in high numbers. They curl into a tight coil when disturbed and may release a foul smelling fluid that can stain floors or fabric. Homeowners often become frustrated when they find millipedes repeatedly along baseboards, on basement floors, or inside storage areas. The presence of millipedes also signals conditions that may attract other moisture loving pests, such as centipedes, silverfish, and earwigs.

Millipede behavior patterns in the Miami Valley

Millipede activity in southwestern Ohio is closely tied to moisture levels and soil conditions. The Miami Valley experiences regular rain throughout spring and early summer, and these wet conditions often drive millipedes into homes. Heavy rainfall, high humidity, and poor drainage around the foundation all increase the likelihood of millipede movement.

Outdoors, millipedes thrive in mulch, leaf litter, grass clippings, and decaying vegetation. They hide under stones, logs, and landscaping materials. When their environment becomes excessively damp or flooded, they look for dry, protected areas, and the closest option is often the inside of the home.

Once indoors, millipedes move slowly and usually die quickly because indoor environments are too dry for them to survive long term. However, when weather conditions persist, new millipedes continue entering the home, creating the appearance of an ongoing infestation even though they are not breeding indoors.

Signs that millipedes have established themselves

Millipede problems are easy to recognize. Sighting them repeatedly along basement floors, near foundation walls, around entry doors, or in utility rooms is the most common sign. Their long, rounded bodies and slow movement make them easy to identify.

If you notice millipedes inside after periods of heavy rain or during humid nights, it usually means the outdoor ground around your home is too wet. Seeing millipedes in large numbers crawling up foundation walls, patios, or garage entrances is another indication that they are seeking dry shelter inside the home.

A musty smell or damp environment in a basement or crawl space often coincides with millipede activity, because these are the conditions that attracted them in the first place.

When you should take action

You should take action as soon as millipedes begin showing up in noticeable numbers. Store bought sprays may kill the ones you see, but they do not fix the moisture issues that cause millipedes to come inside. Without correcting these conditions, the problem can return each time the weather becomes wet or humid.

Delaying treatment can also allow other moisture loving pests to move in. Consistent millipede activity often overlaps with centipedes, earwigs, and silverfish, which makes the overall situation more difficult to manage.

The right next step

If millipedes are becoming a recurring problem in your Miami Valley home, the best thing you can do is contact Midwest Pest and Wildlife Control. We identify where they are entering, reduce the conditions that attract them, and treat the areas where millipedes gather. Professional service helps stop the invasion and gives you a long term solution that keeps your home dry and comfortable.