If you have started finding millipedes in the house all of a sudden, you are not alone. Every fall, Dallas homeowners report the same small crawlers on patios, garage floors, and kitchen tiles: millipedes, roly-polies (also called pill bugs), and the occasional fast-moving centipede. Most of them are harmless, but it helps to know which is which and why they are coming inside.
Why Millipedes Show Up in the House in Fall
All three of these creatures live in damp soil, mulch, and leaf litter. In fall, cooler nights, heavy rain, and drying flower beds push them to move. Many of them wander toward the foundation, and some slip in under doors, through weep holes, and around gaps at the slab. Once indoors, they usually die within a few days because the air is too dry for them. That is why you often find them curled up and dead on the floor.
Rain plays a big part. If the crawlers appeared right after a storm, our post on pests after heavy rain in Dallas explains what else tends to move in at the same time.
How to Tell Them Apart
- Millipedes: long, slow, and round, with two pairs of legs on most body segments. They often curl into a tight spiral when touched. They do not bite or sting.
- Roly-polies (pill bugs): small, gray, and armored, and they roll into a ball when disturbed. They are related to shrimp and crabs, not insects, and they are harmless to people.
- Centipedes: flatter and much faster, with one pair of long legs per segment. They hunt other bugs and can bite if handled.
Which Ones Matter?
Millipedes and pill bugs are nuisance pests. They do not damage the structure of your home, and they do not spread disease. Some millipedes release a smelly fluid that can stain skin or floors, so sweep them up instead of crushing them.
Centipedes deserve a little more care. A bite usually feels like a bee sting and fades on its own. However, if a bite swells, spreads, or gets worse, or if a child is bitten, see a doctor. Seeing many centipedes indoors can also be a sign that other bugs are living in the house, since that is what they eat.
How to Keep Them Outside
- Pull mulch and leaf litter a few inches back from the foundation.
- Fix leaky hose bibs and point downspouts away from the house.
- Add door sweeps and replace worn weatherstripping.
- Seal gaps around pipes, vents, and the bottom of siding.
- Run a dehumidifier in damp garages and laundry rooms.
These are not the only fall invaders. Stink bugs and lady beetles also look for a way in this time of year, as we cover in our guide to overwintering pests in Dallas.
When to Call a Professional
A few crawlers after a rain is normal. Dozens every morning, or centipedes turning up in bedrooms, usually means moisture or entry points you have not found yet. HK Pest Control Services is licensed and insured in Texas (TPCL #13923) and serves Dallas, Richardson, and Plano. As part of our general pest control service, we can inspect the foundation and entry points, treat the areas where they hide, and show you what is letting them in.
Tired of sweeping up millipedes in the house every morning? Call 469-618-9991 for a free quote, backed by our guarantee.
