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If you are having a terrible millipede issue and would rather have us come do a treatment we do offer an additional service and would love to help you out!
Just give the office a call and we can help get you set up with a technician!
But, there are several natural options you can try for both repelling and eliminating these pests! Here are a few of our favorites:
Traps:
DIY millipede traps are easy to make plus you don’t have to be there to check it! Put a piece of fruit inside a bottle so that it sits in the bottom. Grab a piece of vinyl tubing (about 6 inches in length), a plastic soda bottle, and some caulk or tape. Try to get a piece of tubing that just fits snugly into the lip of the bottle. Slide the tubing into the bottle so that about 2 inches of tube is inside and seal it with the tape. Lean the bottle on its side, making sure that the tube doesn’t touch the edges of the bottle. Millipedes will crawl into the tube to get to the fruit as it starts to rot and not be able to crawl back out. You can place several of these traps anywhere you see millipede activity.
Manual Removal:
One of the easiest and quickest ways to get rid of millipedes is to manually remove them. Try not to just squish them with your foot as they will give off a foul odor similar to stinkbugs. You can use a broom and dustpan to sweep them up and dump them or you can just vacuum them up with a vacuum cleaner or shop vac and dispose of them outside.
Boric Acid:
Boric acid cuts up the pests as they crawl across it, causing them to slowly dehydrate. It also upsets the digestive system of millipedes, causing it to work fast. Boric acid should not be used in areas with kids or pets.
Essential Oils:
Essential oils are more effective as repellents rather than insecticides. Tea tree oil and peppermint oil are the two most common for use against them. Essential oils should always be diluted with water before use. Apply the oil mixture around entry points like windowsills, door gaps, basements, vents, foundation cracks, and crawlspaces. You can also apply them outdoors in any areas millipedes may be, as long as it is shielded from rain.
Cayenne Pepper:
Like essential oils, cayenne pepper works best as a repellent rather than an insecticide. Cayenne pepper also works for other pests besides millipedes. You can buy whole cayenne peppers and grind them yourself or buy the powder. Sprinkle the pepper in any areas where millipede activity is spotted. You can also sprinkle it around foundations and entry points to your home.
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