Millipedes might not bite or sting, but when they start marching across your floors in the dozens, it’s time to take notice. These slow-moving, moisture-loving pests are common in Middle Tennessee and often invade homes during wet weather or seasonal changes.

Active Seasons

Millipedes are most active from spring through fall, particularly during rainy periods or when the ground becomes saturated. You’ll also see them indoors in late summer or fall, as they seek drier shelter.

Lifespan

Millipedes can live up to 7 years, though most common household species survive for about 1 to 2 years. They typically spend their lives outdoors in soil, mulch, or under debris — until they come looking for dry ground.

Reproduction Rate

A single female can lay hundreds of eggs in moist soil or decaying organic matter. While they don’t breed indoors, large populations outside your home increase the odds of repeat invasions — especially during rainy seasons.

How to Identify

• Appearance: Long, cylindrical body with dozens of legs (two pairs per body segment).

• Color: Usually dark brown to black with a shiny, hard shell.

• Movement: Slow-moving and curls into a tight spiral when disturbed.

• Where they’re found: Basements, garages, crawlspaces, under door thresholds, or curled up near windows and walls.

Millipedes don’t cause structural damage, but they definitely don’t belong inside — and their numbers can be alarming.

Health Concerns

• Millipedes are not dangerous, but some species release a mild, foul-smelling fluid when threatened, which can irritate skin or eyes if handled.

• They can also leave stains on floors, carpets, or walls when crushed.

Property Concerns

• Millipede infestations are usually a red flag for excessive moisture in or around your home.

• Wet mulch beds, foundation leaks, poorly ventilated crawlspaces, and clogged gutters create ideal environments for them to thrive.

• If millipedes are getting inside, other pests likely are too.

Why You Need Perimeter Pest

You don’t need to fight a millipede march on your own. At Perimeter Pest, we know how to target the outdoor sources, eliminate the conditions that attract millipedes, and create an invisible barrier to stop them from entering your home in the first place.

We’ll inspect, treat, and follow up — so your home stays dry, sealed, and pest-free.

Keep your home from becoming a millipede hotel. Call Perimeter Pest — Nashville’s trusted local experts in pest prevention and moisture-related pest control.