Occasional Invaders
Millipede
Slow-moving, worm-like creatures with many legs that live in damp soil and leaf litter, and wander indoors after heavy rain.
Quick facts
- Size
- 2.5–4 cm
- Colour
- Brown to black
- Active season
- Spring and fall, especially after rain
- Where found
- Leaf litter, mulch, damp soil, basements
How to Identify
- Long, rounded body with two pairs of legs per segment
- Curls into a coil when disturbed
- Slow-moving
Signs to Look For
- Millipedes on basement floors and near doors
- Many found dead indoors — they dry out quickly
- Large numbers in mulch beds
Why It Matters
- Harmless to people and property
- Some give off a smelly fluid that can stain
- Large invasions point to moisture issues
Prevention Tips
- Keep mulch and leaf litter away from the foundation
- Improve drainage around the home
- Seal gaps at ground level
More Occasional Invaders
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Boxelder Bug
Black-and-red bugs that gather by the hundreds on sunny walls in fall and try to spend the winter inside homes.
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Centipede
Fast-moving, many-legged hunters that live in damp basements and bathrooms.
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Earwig
Reddish-brown insects with pincers at the tail end.
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Silverfish
Wingless, silvery insects that move like fish and feed on starches — paper, glue, books and fabrics.
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