Millipedes
When you discover that there are over 7,000 species of millipedes on the planet, you may begin to wonder what these intriguing arthropods are all about. Found primarily in humid environments, particularly in the tropics, millipedes are detritivores that feed on decaying plant matter. But what are the implications of their presence? While they don’t bite, some people may experience skin irritation or allergic reactions from contact. As their populations surge during late summer and fall, are they headed for your home and garden?
Things to know about Millipedes
You should understand that millipedes are arthropods, related to shrimp, lobsters, and crayfish, but they aren’t insects. This common misconception can be misleading, especially when dealing with these multi-legged creatures. Millipedes belong to the subphylum Myriapoda, which also includes centipedes. Their long, segmented bodies are a defining feature, along with their many legs.
Here are a few key things to keep in mind about millipedes:
- Leg Count: Millipedes have many legs, but most species don’t reach the thousand-leg mark. They typically have fewer than a hundred legs.
- Diet: Millipedes are primarily detritivores, eating decaying plant material such as leaf litter and compost. They help break down organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.
- Habitat: Millipedes thrive in moist, cool, and dark environments. They’re often found in damp soil, woodpiles, and compost.
- Behavior: Despite their slow pace, millipedes are beneficial to the ecosystem. They can migrate in large groups, especially during periods of high humidity and abundance of food sources.
Understanding these basics helps in effectively addressing any issues related to millipedes in your home or yard.
Millipedes Dangerous or not
While they may seem intimidating, the truth is that millipedes aren’t generally known for posing a serious threat to human safety. Most millipede species aren’t venomous, and they don’t bite humans.
However, some millipedes can release irritating fluids as a defense mechanism. These fluids may cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, or eye problems. In rare cases, individuals allergic to insect toxins might experience severe reactions. It’s still advisable to handle millipedes with care, washing your hands thoroughly after any contact.
Despite their many legs, millipedes aren’t aggressive creatures and are primarily detritivores, feeding on decaying matter. They’re essential to the ecosystem, breaking down organic waste into nutrients for other organisms.
You might encounter them in dark, damp areas or near sources of decaying material, but they’re more likely to be a nuisance than a danger. Following proper precautions when handling millipedes, such as wearing gloves and avoiding direct contact, will minimize any potential risks.
Effects on humans
Effects on humans can range from mild irritation to severe allergic reactions depending on the species and individual sensitivity to the defensive fluids millipedes release.
Millipedes don’t bite or sting, but instead, they curl up and release fluids when they feel threatened. These fluids can contain substances like hydrochloric acid, hydrogen cyanide, and other irritants that can cause reactions in people.
The effects on humans vary widely and may include:
- Mild skin irritation or staining
- Severe allergic reactions, including blisters, hives, and itching
- Eye irritation, potentially causing blurred vision and inflammation
- In rare cases, severe reactions like nausea and vomiting due to exposure to large amounts of the defensive fluids
It is essential to handle millipedes carefully and not touch your eyes after contact to avoid any potential complications.
If you encounter a millipede infestation or react to millipede fluids, consult a professional or a medical service for assistance.
Range or area where they are found
Beyond their unique defense mechanisms, millipedes have an impressive global distribution, found in almost every region around the world, preferentially inhabiting dark, humid areas.
They’re highly adaptable, thriving in diverse environments, from tropical rainforests to temperate forests and even urban landscapes. Their ability to survive in a wide range of ecosystems is a demonstration of their resilient nature.
Here are some key aspects of their geographic distribution:
- Tropical regions: Millipedes are particularly abundant in tropical areas, where they thrive in the humid and warm conditions.
- Moist environments: Areas with high levels of moisture, such as gardens, forests, and wetlands, provide an ideal habitat for millipedes.
- Global presence: Millipedes are found on every continent, including Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America.
- Urban environments: Many species of millipedes can be found in urban areas, such as basements, gardens, and other dark, moist locations.
Insect bite
The Non-Biting Nature of Millipedes
Millipedes aren’t known to bite or inject venom, unlike their centipede cousins, who use their venomous fangs to immobilize prey.
Contrary to their fearsome appearance, millipedes are incapable of delivering a painful bite. Their primary defense mechanism involves secreting irritating chemicals from micropores on their bodies.
These secretions can cause skin irritation, redness, and even blisters in some individuals, but they aren’t toxic to humans.
It’s essential to understand that millipedes aren’t aggressive and won’t attack you. If you handle a millipede, it may release its defensive fluids, potentially leading to temporary skin discoloration or irritation.
However, these effects are generally mild and non-life-threatening. To avoid any potential discomfort, it’s advisable to handle millipedes gently and with appropriate protection, especially if you’re allergic to their secretions.
Bite effects
Although millipedes can’t bite or inject venom, their defensive secretions can cause irritating skin reactions in some individuals. If you accidentally handle a millipede or come into contact with its released fluids, you might notice a brownish staining on your skin.
This discoloration is usually temporary and can be washed off with soap and water. In some cases, people may experience skin irritation, such as itching, burning, or blistering, especially if they’ve allergies.
These skin symptoms are generally mild and can be treated by washing the affected area thoroughly and using over-the-counter antihistamines or hydrocortisone creams. If the irritation persists or worsens, it’s recommended to seek medical attention.
Keep in mind that the severity of the reaction depends on your individual sensitivity to the millipede’s toxins and the species involved. With proper precautions and understanding of these harmless creatures, you can peacefully coexist with millipedes in your gardens or homes.
How to treat
If you encounter skin irritation due to millipede secretions, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water. This will help prevent any potential allergic reactions.
For topical relief from blisters or burning, apply a soothing agent such as aloe vera gel.
If your eyes become exposed, wash them with plenty of water for at least 20 minutes. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any severe reactions, such as facial swelling, breathing difficulties, or rapid heart rate.
Always handle millipedes carefully, if necessary, to avoid any contact with their secretions.
Causes
When handling millipedes, any rough handling or threat can trigger the release of their defensive toxin, which contains harmful chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, hydrogen cyanide, and benzoquinones. This can lead to potential skin irritation and allergic reactions.
This is why it’s vital to handle these pests carefully and avoid using bare hands.
The causes of millipede infestations are primarily linked to excessive moisture, food availability, and the presence of hiding places. Here are some key factors that contribute to millipede issues:
- Moist Environments: Millipedes thrive in damp environments, making areas with high humidity and water accumulation ideal breeding grounds.
- Food Sources: Millipedes feed on decaying organic matter, which can include leaf litter, garden mulch, and other plant materials.
- Shelter: Millipedes often hide in dark, cool, and moist spaces such as under rocks, boards, and near in-ground swimming pools.
- Migration: Weather changes, like dry spells or heavy rainfall, can trigger millipede migrations, leading them to invade buildings and homes.
Understanding these causes is essential to developing effective strategies for controlling and preventing millipede infestations.
Signs of
Signs of a Millipede Infestation
Signs of a millipede infestation typically include a large number of them entering your home or noticing these pests in areas with high moisture and humidity. Their presence can be a nuisance, although they pose no direct threat to you or your pets.
Here are some common indications of a millipede infestation:
- High Moisture: Millipedes are drawn to damp and humid environments. If you find them near leakage points, pools of water, or areas with poor ventilation, it could be a sign of an infestation.
- Shed Skins: Millipedes periodically molt, shedding their skin as they grow. Finding these discarded skins can indicate the presence of a millipede population.
- Meal Traces: Millipedes feed on organic matter, leaving behind trails of decaying plant material. If you notice these trails in your home or garden, it may signify the presence of millipedes.
- Unexplained Noises: Millipedes can produce a rustling or clicking noise, particularly when disturbed. If you hear unusual sounds coming from hidden crevices, it could be a sign of a millipede infestation.
Consider these signs carefully to determine if you have a millipede infestation and take appropriate steps to manage their presence.
Life cycle and reproduction
Understanding the life cycle and reproduction of millipedes is essential to effectively managing and controlling their populations in and around your home.
Millipedes go through several stages of development before reaching adulthood. They spend the winter primarily as adults and lay their eggs in moist organic matter in the spring. After hatching, young millipedes have only a few pairs of legs, but they gradually add segments and legs with each molt until they reach maturity. This process usually takes 2-5 years, and some species can live for several years afterward.
Female millipedes can lay up to 300 eggs in the soil, which hatch within a few weeks. Millipedes mature within 2-5 years and live for several years after that.
Since millipedes don’t reproduce indoors and are simply accidental invaders, controlling their populations involves understanding their life cycle and addressing the conditions that attract them. By removing organic matter and addressing dampness around your home, you can notably reduce the likelihood of millipede invasions.
Attracted to
Millipedes are drawn to environments rich in organic matter and moisture, which is why they thrive in areas with dense mulch, rotting logs, or thick leaf litter. These environments provide the ideal conditions for them to feed on decaying plant materials and to shelter themselves.
Dark, cool, and damp locations such as compost piles, heavily mulched shrub or flower beds, and under rotting logs are particularly appealing to millipedes.
They’re also attracted to wet areas such as around in-ground swimming pools, where they can crawl into the water.
During periods of heavy rain, when wet conditions force them to the surface, they tend to migrate to higher ground, often ending up on concrete slabs, foundations, and siding.
Millipedes are also occasionally observed climbing walls and entering homes through foundation cracks, especially during their migrations.
Understanding these attraction points can help manage millipedes effectively, as removing or reducing these environmental factors can minimize their presence in unwanted areas.
Behavior
When you find millipedes in your home or yard, it’s essential to comprehend their behavior, including what triggers their migration and how they interact with their environment. Millipedes are attracted to dark, cool, and moist environments, which are rich in organic matter. They’re nocturnal and spend most of their time burrowed in soil, leaf litter, or similar habitats. During the day, they remain inactive, often coiled into a ‘C’ shape.
Here are some key points about millipede behavior:
- Moisture seekers: Millipedes crawl into homes from the soil and leaf litter, especially during late summer and fall, when they seek protected places to overwinter.
- Dry conditions: If there’s excessive rainfall or ground moisture, they may look for areas with less moisture.
- Nighttime activity: They’re most active at night and hide beneath objects where it’s dark and damp.
- Overwintering: In the fall, they seek protected places to overwinter, and they often enter buildings through cracks in foundations, around ground-level windows, and under doors.
Understanding their behavior helps you manage and control millipede invasions effectively.
Natural predators and parasites
Several species, including reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, and predatory insects, prey on millipedes, integrating them into their food chains.
To defend themselves against predators, millipedes curl up in tight spirals, exposing their armored, protective shells. This unusual posture allows them to safeguard their vulnerable underbelly from potential threats. Additionally, many species release uninviting, irritating chemicals from micropores along their bodies to deter predators.
In terms of parasites, while millipedes can be hosts, some insects are susceptible to parasites like horsehair worms, which are known to be associated with millipedes.
Millipedes are classed under Diplopoda and aren’t insects, making them more closely related to crustaceans than insects.
Their defense strategies against predators are effective and involve physical barriers, chemical deterrents, and burrowing behavior to evade potential predators.
Best killer
You might be surprised to learn that among the most efficient predators of millipedes are hummingbirds, which can capitalize on the millipedes’ processing of nutrients by consuming them as supplementary sources of energy. In this complex food web, hummingbirds have developed a unique method to exploit the millipedes’ role in decomposing organic matter.
Hummingbird Adaptations: Hummingbirds have evolved to target millipedes as a supplemental food source, taking advantage of their high nutritional value.
Understanding Millipede Nutrient Processing: Millipedes’ ability to process nutrients from decaying plant materials makes them a valuable energy resource for hummingbirds.
Avoiding Millipede Defenses: Hummingbirds are able to circumnavigate millipedes’ defense mechanisms, such as their ability to excrete chemical deterrents, to successfully hunt and consume them.
Ecological Importance: The predation relationship between hummingbirds and millipedes highlights the critical interplay between species in maintaining ecological balance.
Best professional pest control treatment for
Best Professional Pest Control Treatment for Millipedes
Generally, professional pest control operators recommend using a combination of physical barriers and targeted treatments to effectively manage millipedes, particularly for large, stubborn infestations. This all-encompassing approach guarantees that you address the root causes and prevent reinfestation.
To maximize the effectiveness of your treatment, consider the following strategies:
- Seal Entry Points: Verify all cracks and crevices around your home are sealed, as millipedes can squeeze through the tiniest openings.
- Reduce Moisture: Lower humidity levels by using dehumidifiers, fixing leaks, and maintaining proper drainage to make your home less conducive to millipedes.
- Targeted Sprays: Use insecticides specially formulated for millipedes, such as Supreme IT and Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules, to create a barrier around your home.
- Proper Clean-up: Regularly remove hidden sources of moisture, debris, and clutter to discourage millipedes from settling.
