How to tell you have them
Millipedes are long, round, segmented creatures with two pairs of short legs on most segments. They move slowly and curl into a tight spiral when touched. In parts of Florida, the yellow-banded millipede, a dark species with pale yellow bands, has become known for crowding onto walls, patios, pool decks and garage floors in the rainy season. Millipedes come out of soaked mulch, leaf litter and turf at night.
What they damage
Millipedes do not bite, sting or damage the house. They eat decaying plant material, and indoors they dry out and die within a day or two. Some species release a defensive fluid that can stain skin and irritate the eyes, so use a dustpan rather than bare hands, and wash your hands if you touch one.
What treatment looks like
Millipedes follow moisture, so the lasting fix is drier ground next to the house: pull mulch back from the slab, rake up leaf litter, adjust irrigation that soaks beds and lawn edges, and make sure gutters drain away from the foundation. We apply a perimeter treatment and a granular treatment in the beds and turf edges where they live, and check door sweeps and garage door seals.
How long it takes
Numbers drop within days of treatment, but each heavy rain can bring a new wave from neighboring yards, so the treatment is refreshed at every visit through the wet months.
Florida notes
In our seasonal model, millipede activity jumps in June and peaks in July, with the start of the rainy season. They are a nuisance, not a danger, and they fade as the ground dries in fall. Millipedes are covered on every plan, starting with Quarterly.