CENTIPEDES & MILLIPEDES

Seeing centipedes or millipedes inside your home can be unsettling. While they typically don't cause structural damage, frequent sightings often indicate excess moisture or other pest activity. Arrow identifies the conditions attracting these pests and provides targeted treatments to keep them out.

Centipede & Millipede Control

Centipedes and millipedes are common household invaders throughout Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. Although they are often mistaken for one another, these pests have different behaviors and habits. Both thrive in damp environments and commonly enter homes while searching for moisture, shelter, or food.

If you're seeing centipedes or millipedes indoors on a regular basis, it may be a sign of excess moisture or an underlying pest problem. At Arrow, our technicians identify the source of the activity and develop a customized treatment plan to help keep these pests outside where they belong.

What's the Difference Between Centipedes and Millipedes?

Although they look similar, centipedes and millipedes have several important differences.

Centipedes:

  • Long, flattened bodies

  • One pair of legs per body segment

  • Move very quickly

  • Predators that feed on insects and spiders

  • Can bite if handled, although bites are uncommon and usually mild

Millipedes:

  • Rounded, cylindrical bodies

  • Two pairs of legs per body segment

  • Move slowly

  • Feed on decaying leaves, mulch, and other organic matter

  • Do not bite or sting people

Knowing which pest you're dealing with helps determine the best treatment approach.

Why Are They Coming Inside?

Centipedes and millipedes usually enter homes because they're searching for:

  • Moisture

  • Cooler temperatures during hot weather

  • Warm shelter during cooler months

  • Food sources (especially centipedes)

  • Protection from heavy rain or changing weather

They often enter through:

  • Cracks in foundations

  • Gaps beneath doors

  • Utility penetrations

  • Window frames

  • Garage doors

  • Basement or crawl space openings

Once indoors, they are commonly found in damp areas of the home.

Where Are They Commonly Found?

You may find centipedes or millipedes in:

  • Basements

  • Crawl spaces

  • Bathrooms

  • Laundry rooms

  • Utility rooms

  • Garages

  • Around floor drains

  • Near sump pumps

  • Under boxes or stored items

Outdoors, they are often found beneath mulch, rocks, leaf litter, landscaping timbers, and other damp, shaded areas.

Are Centipedes and Millipedes Dangerous?

For most homeowners, these pests are more of a nuisance than a danger.

Centipedes may bite if they are picked up or trapped against the skin, but bites are uncommon and are generally similar to a mild bee sting.

Millipedes cannot bite or sting. When disturbed, some species may release a defensive fluid that can produce a temporary odor or stain surfaces.

Neither pest causes structural damage to homes.

Why Am I Seeing So Many?

Large numbers of centipedes or millipedes often indicate favorable conditions around your home.

Common contributing factors include:

  • Excess moisture

  • Poor drainage

  • Thick mulch beds

  • Leaf piles

  • Heavy vegetation against the foundation

  • High insect populations that provide food for centipedes

Reducing these conditions can significantly decrease activity around your property.

The Arrow Treatment Process

Our technicians begin by identifying where centipedes or millipedes are entering and what conditions are supporting their activity.

Our service includes:

  • Thorough inspection of the property

  • Identification of moisture issues and harborage areas

  • Exterior perimeter treatments

  • Treatment around entry points when needed

  • Recommendations to reduce moisture and improve drainage

  • Guidance on landscaping and exclusion practices

  • Follow-up service if necessary

Because these pests usually originate outdoors, long-term control focuses on reducing exterior populations and preventing them from entering your home.

How to Help Prevent Centipedes & Millipedes

Homeowners can reduce activity by:

  • Reducing excess moisture around the foundation

  • Repairing leaking faucets and downspouts

  • Improving drainage around the home

  • Keeping mulch several inches away from the foundation

  • Removing leaves and organic debris

  • Sealing cracks and gaps around doors, windows, and utility lines

  • Installing door sweeps and weather stripping

  • Reducing insect activity that attracts centipedes

Simple maintenance combined with professional pest management can greatly reduce future invasions.

Why Choose Arrow?

At Arrow, we understand that seeing dozens of centipedes or millipedes inside your home can be alarming. Our experienced technicians don't just treat the pests you see—they identify why they're there in the first place.

Homeowners throughout Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois trust Arrow because we provide:

  • Licensed, experienced technicians

  • Thorough inspections

  • Customized treatment plans

  • Effective exterior perimeter protection

  • Recommendations to help prevent future infestations

  • Friendly, dependable service

Our goal is to eliminate current activity while helping keep your home protected year-round.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are centipedes beneficial?

Yes. Centipedes are natural predators that feed on insects, spiders, and other small pests outdoors. However, most homeowners prefer not to have them living inside their homes.

Why do I keep finding centipedes in my basement?

Basements are often cool and humid, making them an ideal environment for centipedes. They may also be feeding on other insects living indoors.

Are millipedes harmful?

No. Millipedes do not bite, sting, or damage homes. They are considered nuisance pests that often wander indoors after periods of heavy rain or when outdoor conditions become unfavorable.

Will treating the outside of my home help?

Yes. Since both centipedes and millipedes typically originate outdoors, exterior perimeter treatments and reducing moisture around the home are among the most effective ways to minimize indoor activity.

Can they come back?

Yes. Moisture-loving pests can return if the conditions attracting them remain. Routine pest control service, proper drainage, and sealing entry points provide the best long-term protection.

Keep Multi-Legged Pests Outside with Arrow

Whether you've spotted a single house centipede in your basement or dozens of millipedes around your foundation, Arrow has the experience to solve the problem.

Our team will inspect your property, identify the conditions attracting these pests, and develop a customized treatment plan to help keep your home comfortable, dry, and protected.