Hartford is teeming with life. If you could see all the living creatures around your home, you would be amazed—and probably a little disturbed. They live in the ground by the billions. They crawl around on the ground and in your grass. They climb trees, move around in bushes, and scale the walls of your home. They fly around in the air. When you step outside, you're surrounded by life, and that's just fine, as long as all that life stays outside where it belongs. But unfortunately, those living creatures don't recognize your exterior walls as a border between their domain and yours and they sometimes cross the border without realizing it. If you understand how this works, you can get effective and long-lasting protection from pests. Today, we're going to discuss how this works with centipedes and millipedes.
Understanding Centipedes And Millipedes
While these two pests are often put together, they couldn't be more different. House centipedes only have fifteen pairs of legs. Millipedes have more than twenty pairs of legs, often many more. The long legs of a centipede shoot out from its sides. Millipedes have tiny legs that shoot straight down. When threatened, a millipede will curl up into a ball. Centipedes don't. There are many ways centipedes and millipedes are different, but it is the traits they have in common that we need to look at. In particular, their attraction to moisture.
Moisture Problems
These bugs are always looking for an ideal environment. Consider the following:
- Exterior Populations — Both of these pests are drawn to moist areas and conditions that create moist environments. Before they get into your home, they'll crawl around under piles of leaves, sticks, grass, and other organic debris. They'll crawl under tarps, yard clutter, woodpiles, and objects that block out the sun. As they explore these dark moist places around your home, they'll come close to your exterior. You can resist them by keeping your exterior dry and free of clutter, especially organic material.
- Entry Points — A damp perimeter can cause many issues. One of the most important issues you need to be aware of as it relates to centipedes and millipedes is wood rot. These insects are prone to getting into holes created by wood rot and wood-destroying pests. The appearance of these pests in your home can be a warning sign of moisture damage. This is important to keep in mind. You can resist centipedes and millipedes by repairing wood that has rotted or by sealing holes that have been created. Long before this, you should manage moisture around your home by making sure your gutters are clear and working properly and by implementing other moisture-control strategies.
- Interior Moisture — Once inside your home, centipedes and millipedes will be drawn to high humidity and areas within your home where there is moisture. Cellars and basements are common starting locations. You should not be surprised to see either of these pests in your cellar or basement. You should also not be surprised to see them in first-floor bathrooms and laundry rooms. You can resist them by getting dehumidifiers for your basement and by installing fans, sump pumps, and other moisture-control technologies. It is also important to consider moisture-control strategies in the rest of your home, such as using the fan in your bathroom when you take a bath or shower. This reduces humidity.
Centipede And Millipede Control In Hartford
The tips above can go a long way toward keeping pests out of your Hartford home and reducing sightings. But, for the best control of these and other pests, it is always best to have an ongoing pest control plan. We can help you with this. Connect with us today and ask us about our home pest control services. The team at American Pest Solutions is here to help you with all your pest control needs.