Millipedes in Phoenix, AZ
Diplopoda (class)
Millipedes swarm after monsoon rains and can invade in large numbers. Learn how to manage them around your home.
Notes: From a Phoenix, AZ Exterminator
Appearance
Millipedes are dark brown to black, cylindrical, and slow-moving, with two pairs of legs per body segment (versus one for centipedes) — a helpful way to tell them apart.
Harborage
They thrive in damp organic matter — mulch, leaf litter, and decaying vegetation — and often migrate in large numbers indoors after heavy monsoon rain in search of drier ground.
Are They Dangerous?
They don't bite or sting, but when threatened, they can release a defensive fluid that may irritate skin or eyes on contact. Large swarms are mostly a significant nuisance.
Treatment
Reducing moisture and organic debris near the foundation, combined with perimeter treatment ahead of monsoon season, prevents swarms from reaching your door. Talk to one of Antidote Pest's Service Pro's from Antidote Pest Solutions.
Prevention Tips
Reduce moisture around the foundation by fixing drainage and irrigation issues
Remove leaf litter, mulch, and organic debris close to exterior walls
Seal gaps around doors, windows, and the foundation
Use a dehumidifier in damp crawl spaces or basements
Rake and dispose of decaying vegetation regularly
Behavioral Notes
No millipede species actually has a thousand legs — most have between 40 and 400, though a rare California species holds the record with over 1,300.
When threatened, many millipedes coil into a tight spiral and can secrete a defensive fluid containing compounds like hydrogen cyanide, which can irritate skin or eyes on contact.
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