Occasional Home Invaders: Earwigs and Millipedes

When you think of pests in your home, you typically think of the usual suspects like termites, mice or ants, right?  But there are other pests that prefer the outdoors but occasionally make their way inside. They are more of a nuisance than a threat although they definitely bother some people. Two pests that fall into the occasional invader category are Earwigs and Millipedes.

Earwigs

Earwigs get their name from the superstition that they crawl into sleeping people’s ears and bore into their brains.  Thankfully, this isn’t true.

Earwigs are brownish-black in color, and range from ¼ inch to 1 inch long.  Their most defining feature is their cerci, which look like clippers, and can be found on their abdomen.  Earwigs usually hide during the day and come out at night to feed on leaves, flowers, fruits, mold and insects.

The best way to prevent earwigs from becoming an uninvited guest in your home is to remove any piles of leaves or vegetation around your house.  Earwigs love dark, moist places like damp leaf piles, and are happy to make their home there.  You should also seal up any cracks and crevices around your house to prevent earwig infestation.

Millipedes

Most people know what millipedes look like, thanks to their somewhat accurate name.  Although they don’t have 1,000 legs, many of them have anywhere from 30-90 pairs of legs.

There are about 1,000 millipede species found in the U.S. today.  They’re usually blackish or brownish, though some have red or orange patterns on them.  They can range in length from 1/16 inch to four inches.  Millipedes come out at night and feed on decaying plants and dead insects.  Many species of millipedes discharge an unpleasant odor as a way to protect themselves.

To prevent millipedes from becoming occasional home invaders at your house, try to get rid of as much moisture as possible.  Millipedes spend much of their time in moist or damp areas, and will find whatever moisture they can, especially in damp basements.  Make sure to remove leaf piles, and keep wood piles off the ground as well.

If you’d like more information on less common pests and how to control them, contact HomeTeam Pest Defense today.