Shenandoah Centipede & Millipede Infestation — Reading the Underlying Cause
Centipedes and millipedes require specific conditions to establish in significant numbers — and those conditions are almost always correctable. In Shenandoah properties, consistent centipede or millipede activity points to excess moisture in the basement or crawlspace, organic debris accumulation around the foundation, or an underlying insect population that centipedes are following as a food source.
Millipedes, which feed on decaying organic matter, often invade in large numbers after heavy rainfall — migrating from outdoor mulch and leaf litter into foundations and through gaps in the building envelope. Centipedes follow the insects they feed on.
How to Tell Centipedes and Millipedes Apart
Centipedes are fast-moving predators with one pair of legs per body segment. The house centipede can deliver a mild bite if handled. Millipedes are slow-moving detritivores with two pairs of legs per segment. They do not bite but produce defensive secretions that cause skin irritation in some people.
How We Treat Centipede & Millipede Infestations in Shenandoah
Lasting centipede and millipede control in Shenandoah requires two parallel actions: chemical treatment to reduce the current population, and environmental modification to remove the moisture and harborage conditions that will sustain a new one. Perimeter treatment alone produces short-term results. Addressing root conditions produces lasting ones.