Share:

While millipedes and centipedes share certain characteristics, there are significant differences between the two arthropods, whose behaviors and biology can impact your home in varying ways. The good news is that both species are mostly harmless; however, caution is still necessary if you find either of them on your property—especially if you have children or pets.

Select Pest Control, Cincinnati, OH’s, leading pest control team, explains the most significant differences below:

  • Centipedes: In terms of appearance, these insects are flatter and more flexible than millipedes. They also have fewer legs, with only one pair per body segment (instead of two pairs per segment). Centipedes are also known for their swift movements: If one runs across the floor, you may think at first that it’s a trick of the light. They generally eat other insects, which they sting and kill with venom. If they feel threatened, they will sometimes bite humans. Their bites aren’t lethal for people, but serious enough to merit medical attention, especially for children or allergic individuals. Call a pest control professional if centipedes are proliferating in your home.
  • pest controlMillipedes: You can recognize millipedes by their darker color and half-pipe shape. They also tend to move quite slowly, making them easier to spot. If they feel threatened, they may curl up or secrete a poisonous substance from glands between their body segments (millipedes are mostly peaceful, and do not bite). Their diet mainly consists of rotting organic matter, though sometimes they eat young plant seedlings. You’ll most likely find millipedes outdoors, such as in your garden, where they burrow underground.

Select Pest Control has provided pest and animal control services in the Cincinnati area for over three decades. If you’re concerned about millipedes, centipedes, bed bugs, termites, or other pests on your property, give them a call at (513) 352-0080 to schedule an inspection. More information about their pest control services is available on their website.

tracking