Prime millipede time is coming up, and many people are left scouring the internet looking for how to prevent millipedes from entering my house. Let us save you some time; we’ve put together excellent solutions for your millipede problem. Learn some great natural ways to repel millipedes in addition to traditional pest plans.
Not to be confused with the scurrying house centipede, millipedes are slow-moving and have two pairs of legs on each body segment. You might hear people call them “a thousand leggers.” Don’t worry too much; they’re more horrifying than harmful. Millipedes don’t bite or transmit any diseases. They’re mostly just unpleasant.
What are millipedes attracted to? Moisture attracts millipedes. They often appear after rain and are happy in damp places like the basement or crawl space. The gray garden millipede loves to snack on decaying plant matter or organic material. This is the most common variety you’ll find wandering around your house. If millipede encounters aren’t your style, check out these helpful hints to keep them away.
The Best Way I Repel Millipedes
Have you come across some creepy crawlies in a damp area of your basement? Learn the best way to repel millipedes from moist areas indoors and how to evict them from favorite hiding places like dead leaves and organic matter in the yard.
Natural Ways I Repel Millipedes with Capsaicin
There are plenty of home remedies to repel millipedes, and many people use them as part of an environmentally friendly approach to pest control called integrated pest management.
Take steps to minimize the impact on biodiversity by choosing the least toxic route first. A DIY hot pepper spray application might suit your pest prevention needs.
Spicy peppers are repulsive to many pests, including house centipedes and garden millipedes. Capsaicin makes the hot pepper hot; all spicy peppers contain levels of it to varying degrees.
If you don’t have gloves, be careful when handling intense peppers, the juice stays under your fingernails and irritates your eyes or other sensitive parts of your body.
Use a blender to spare you the pepper fumes for this recipe. Toss your ingredients in the blender and add two cups of water to help everything liquefy. Once blended, let the mixture sit for an hour and then come back for one last pulse.
Strain any particles with cheesecloth or a coffee filter, put the liquid in the spray bottle, and add the remaining water. During peak millipede season, spray daily around all entry points.
How I Prevent Millipedes from Entering My House with Oils
Did you know you can stop millipedes entering the house with a bit of oil? Essential oils are concentrated chemical compounds derived from plants. Labs extract essential oils by steam distillation and make them ready for sale as an aromatic liquid.
While there isn’t much evidence to show they work on their own as an insecticide, they do repel and prevent millipedes from developing interest in a particular area. Choose oils like clove, mint, basil, and sage as the best essential oils to get rid of millipedes and other pests. Always dilute the oil with water before application; 15 drops per 10 ounces, as a general rule.
Apply around window frames, doors, and outdoor vents for adequate protection. You can even use essential oil-based pest-fighting brands like Wondercide and Dr. Earth in bedroom areas as effective bed bug control in addition to millipede duty.
I Use Kaolin Clay to Repel Millipedes
Sometimes the best way to repel millipedes is with something natural and simple. This soft white dust is used to make fine porcelain in China, but it works great as a completely natural pest control method.
It can be used as a foliar spray on food crops to deter pests like the lady beetle, cucumber beetle, and apple maggot without being toxic to humans. Kaolin clay also creates an irritating barrier to millipedes, confusing them and keeping them away from entry points to your home.
Mix your version of kaolin clay solution by adding three cups of powder every gallon of water, and spray bi-weekly to make a centipede deterrent or other bug repellent. Or, simplify your life and pick up pre-made products to get the job done.
How I Make a DIY Millipede Trap
If millipedes have breached the barrier somewhere and you’re running scenarios for “how to prevent millipedes from entering my house,” this DIY millipede trap is for you. It’s straightforward to make, non-toxic, and can be repeated very cheaply if you have a large area to patrol.
Drop a ripe piece of fruit into the bottom of the soda bottle. Cut your vinyl tubing into 6-inch lengths and push the tubing just inside the lip of the bottle, so it fits nice and snug.
Tape or glue the tubing in place, so there’s no room for escape. Turn the bottle upright and leave the tubing stretched in an area where millipedes can crawl in. Millipedes will come for the fruit and be unable to crawl back up the soda bottle to get out. The fruit also makes ideal earwig bait.
Diatomaceous Earth I Use for Millipedes
Do you know what kills house centipedes? Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring crystalline substance that causes small abrasions in the exoskeletons of invading pests, drying out and killing them. It works on many types of insect infestations and does wonders against millipedes.
Diatomaceous earth is one of the many effective natural ways to repel millipedes; you just set it and forget it. Purchase the food-grade variety to ensure safe use inside your home and around pets and children. Don’t forget to vacuum and dispose of dead millipedes.
Wood Ash to Repel My Millipedes
Wood ash is the residue left behind after burning wood. You may be wondering how this relates to millipedes, but wood ash is a helpful soil additive for the dirt around your home.
The garden millipede prefers to lay its eggs in moist soil, but a little wood ash renders the soil too dry to be an inviting nest for the eggs. Purchase wood ash from the local hardware store, and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the most successful application.
My Pest Control for a Millipede Infestation
Have circumstances have taken a turn for the worse, and millipedes outnumber you in your own home? In that case, it’s time to consider professional pest control for a millipede infestation. A pest control technician is trained to help with many kinds of invasive arthropods, including the garden millipede and yellow jacket millipede.
A professional won’t leave residual pesticides throughout your property, and they’ll always have knowledgeable advice. Pest control offices are all over the country, and most offer a free inspection. It’s hard to beat free expert information when dealing with a frustrating infestation.
We hope you’re confidently thinking, “I know how to prevent millipedes from entering my house now.” However, it never hurts to learn more. Start with preventative measures like bird control, disposing of leaf litter, excess mulch, and grass clippings. Keep your compost pile tidy, and a watchful eye for moisture accumulation.
Millipedes are more of a nuisance pest than a super-destructive dangerous pest, but that doesn’t mean you have to share your house with them. Manage all the things within your control. You’ll make future pest control a breeze with planning and attention to detail.
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