West Lafayette Centipede & Millipede Infestation — Reading the Underlying Cause
House centipedes and millipedes are moisture-dependent arthropods that are rarely present in significant numbers unless the conditions supporting them are well established. In West Lafayette homes, their presence typically indicates excess moisture in basements or crawlspaces, accumulation of organic debris outdoors, or an underlying insect population (house centipedes prey on other insects).
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.
Identifying Which Species You Have in West Lafayette
Centipede: fast-moving, flat-bodied, one leg pair per segment, predatory. House centipedes are drawn indoors by insect prey and can deliver a mild bite if handled directly. Millipede: slow-moving, cylindrical, two leg pairs per segment, feeds on decomposing organic material. Millipedes coil defensively when disturbed and secrete compounds that cause skin and eye irritation in sensitive individuals — handle neither species without protection.
Treatment Approach in West Lafayette
Effective control requires both chemical treatment and environmental modification. Perimeter spray reduces the population entering the structure, while moisture and harborage reduction addresses the conditions sustaining the population.