Centipedes and millipedes both come indoors looking for moisture. Centipedes are fast hunters that can bite. Millipedes are slow and harmless, and they usually show up in groups after heavy watering.
Which one do you have?
- Desert centipede. Large, flat, and fast, with one pair of legs per body segment. It can deliver a painful, bee-sting-like bite.
- House centipede. Long, thin legs and very fast. Lives indoors in bathrooms and basements and eats other insects.
- Millipedes. Round, slow, and curl into a spiral when touched. They don’t bite but can leave a fluid that irritates skin.
Where they come from
- Damp soil and mulch near the foundation
- Irrigation overspray against walls
- Under rocks, pavers, and planters
- Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and garages
- Gaps under doors
Both need moisture to survive. Dry out the area and most of the problem goes with it.
What our treatment does
We treat around your foundation and the damp areas where they hide, and we point out moisture problems that are drawing them in.
What treatment can’t do
We’ll be straight with you: if the soil around your house stays wet, they’ll keep coming. Fixing the moisture is what makes treatment last.
What actually helps
- Fix the overspray. Adjust sprinklers and drip lines so they don’t soak the foundation.
- Pull back the mulch. Keep mulch and rock a few inches away from the walls.
- Dry the bathrooms. Run exhaust fans and fix leaky pipes.
- Sweep them up. Clear millipedes off patios and sidewalks after watering.
- Seal the doors. Door sweeps and weatherstripping keep both out of the house.
- Clear the clutter. Move boards, stones, and stored items off damp ground near the house.
Still seeing millipedes after watering?
Millipedes often move in large numbers after heavy watering or a summer storm floods their hiding spots. These migrations usually pass within a week or two. Sweeping them up and keeping the foundation dry helps more than spraying.
Common questions
Do centipedes bite?
Desert centipedes can. Their bite is painful, a lot like a bee sting, with swelling that usually fades within a day or two. Wash it, use a cold compress, and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if symptoms get worse. House centipedes rarely bite people, and millipedes don’t bite at all.
Why are there so many millipedes after watering?
Millipedes live in damp soil and mulch. When sprinklers or a summer storm flood their hiding spots, they move out in large numbers, often onto patios and into garages. These swarms usually pass within a week or two.
Are millipedes poisonous?
No, but they can give off a fluid that stains and irritates skin. Use a broom or gloves to move them, and wash your hands if you touch one.
Tips and tricks
Use sticky traps to find the way in. Set a few glue traps flat along the walls in bathrooms, the laundry room, and the garage. After a few days, the trap with the most catches points to where they’re coming in.
If a centipede bites
- Wash the bite with soap and water and apply a cold compress.
- Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if the pain or swelling gets worse.
- Get emergency care for trouble breathing or signs of an allergic reaction.
Get help with centipedes and millipedes
Seeing them indoors? We’ll treat where they’re hiding and help you fix what’s drawing them in.
Other pests we handle: Scorpions, Cockroaches, Ants, Spiders, Rodents, Crickets, Stinging Insects, Bed Bugs, Flies & Gnats, Mosquitoes, Ticks & Fleas, Beetles, Silverfish, Pillbugs & Sowbugs. See the full pest library.