How to Prevent Millipede Invasion

Millipedes, also known as "thousand-legged worms" or "cigarette worms," ​​are most active in May and June. Many people are startled when they see them, mistaking them for centipedes. In fact, the two are completely different; you can refer to the image below for comparison.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the millipede on the left doesn't look as scary as a centipede. In everyday life, when you see one, it's more likely to look like this:

Reasons for forming groups

Millipedes are social animals that usually hide under fallen leaves or in the soil. They appear in groups because during the rainy season, the damp and rainy conditions make the soil too wet and lacking in aeration, or even completely submerged, forcing the millipedes to come out to breathe and move around.

Another reason could be temperature. As the weather gets hotter, the soil becomes too warm and dry from the sun, and millipedes want to crawl out to find a damp, shady place. However, like earthworms, this "migration" is also a matter of luck; they might dry out due to the high temperature during the migration.

Diligent and hardworking, nature's cleaners

Despite their unassuming appearance, millipedes are among nature's most diligent scavengers and crucial decomposers in forest ecosystems. They primarily feed on litter, decaying wood, and other plant debris, and their food intake increases as temperatures rise. Consequently, their numbers peak in late summer and dwindle in late winter.

A master of faking death, a natural-born actor.

If threatened or touched, millipedes will curl their bodies into a ring, entering a state of "feigned death," and will only resume activity after a period of time. Many millipedes also have scent glands on their sides, which can secrete an irritating venom or gas to defend against enemies.

As your trusted pest control expert, Rentokil Initial is not only the first foreign-invested enterprise in China to obtain the national Class A qualification for pest control services , but also a 5-star qualified pest control enterprise in Shanghai. Whether you are troubled by pests or want to prevent them from happening in the first place, feel free to contact us!

Finally, let's take a look at the complete New Year's cleaning tips video brought to you by Rentokil Initial China in collaboration with Xinmin Evening News (video produced by "Xinmin Evening News Shanghai Moment").

Prevention Tips

• Keep the indoor environment clean and dry; do not create a damp and dark living environment for millipedes.
• Regularly clean up stagnant water around flowering plants and remove decaying matter to prevent attracting millipedes.
• Millipedes can hide in weeds and fallen leaves, so it's important to regularly clean the greenery around buildings.

Nuoduojie Reptile Special Control Solution

This summer, if you encounter millipede problems, let Rentokil Initial's special reptile control solution help you! Targeting the millipede's growth cycle, our special control solution can comprehensively treat both adult and larval insects on the soil surface and in the soil, helping you effectively solve pest problems and achieve a more lasting control effect, protecting the first line of defense against pest invasion.