Centipede and Millipede Pest Control Explained

Centipedes and millipedes can be significant pest problems for folks who live in rural areas. Although they both may occur in urban settings, their natural habitat (and thus their food) is more commonly found away from the town environment.

Centipedes are nocturnal hunters that occur in most of the tropical regions of the world. They are venomous and many species can inflict a painful bite. However their venom is not considered life-threatening to those who are not allergic. There have been hundreds of species of centipedes identified worldwide. Although they do occur in this area, they are not a common pest problem in the Fresno area.

The term centipede comes from the Latin for 100 legs. Although the animal may have a hundred legs, it may have more or less, depending on the species and the age of the individual. The best way to tell a centipede from a millipede is to determine how many legs are attached to each body segment. If there is only a single pair of legs attached to each body segment, you are dealing with a centipede. If there are two pairs of legs attached to each body segment, the creature is a millipede.

Millipedes are extremely common household pests in the rural and foothill areas of the eastern San Joaquin Valley. Unlike the centipede, millipedes are not venomous and they are not hunters. Instead they feed on decaying organic materials. Populations of millipedes can grow to staggering numbers when conditions are right, and attempts to control them with pesticide applications alone usually result in disappointment. Instead, every effort should be made to close off all points of entry that they may use to get into the structure. Removal of vegetation near the structure can also be helpful. Pesticide applications done in conjunction with good sanitation practices will yield the best results, but, especially in severe situations, complete control is often not practical.

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