Millipedes are back in force in the Mohawk Valley
By
WKTV News
Story Created:
Aug 10, 2011 at 2:26 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Aug 10, 2011 at 2:26 PM EDT
HERKIMER, N.Y. - Have you wondered what those small bugs are crawling all over the side of your house or heading for the damp areas of your garage or basement?
This summer the millipedes are back in force in the Mohawk Valley.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension office in Herkimer County receives half a dozen phone calls per day regarding the latest invasion due to the wet and humid weather.
Although millipedes do not bite or bore into wood, they are simply a nuisance by their presence. Millipedes lay their eggs in the soil and when weather conditions are right they hatch by the millions.
Despite their name, millipedes have only about 30 pairs of legs and are actually arthropods, not insects. They eat rotting organic matter and seek moist and cool places to lay eggs. All of this does not help the Valley homeowner who is infested with these crawlers.
The best strategy in fighting millipedes is to first remove any moist organic matter away from the foundation of the house. Then, caulk, or otherwise seal any cracks or joints in the foundation.
Finally, spray an insecticidal barrier at least three feet wide around the perimeter of the foundation of the garage and/or home on the lawn and also about two feet up the side of the house. A popular insecticide for this purpose is Sevin, but permethrin and many others will work also.
Remember, the problem is not really in killing the millipedes, it’s in their sheer numbers. You may have to respray every so often to maintain the pesticide barrier, which will be dependent on the weather conditions. Be sure to follow directions on the label regardless of what you use. Organic alternatives which may be helpful include diatomaceous earth or silica gel to act as desiccant barriers in crevices and cracks around the home.
Finally, nature will take its course and the change in hot, humid weather will end the invasion. These events are cyclical in nature, with the last millipede invasion occurring in 2008. Of course, some areas are affected almost every summer but 2011 seems to be another banner year for the Mohawk Valley in general.
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