BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR Millipedes are a common arthropod found in Utah yards and gardens. Millipedes are typically dark brown and wormlike. On close inspection they have numerous small legs. Millipedes feed on decaying plant materials and thrive in moist areas such as lawns. Occasionally they will move into homes, sometimes in very large numbers. The arid climate of Utah almost always kills the millipedes within a day or two. After dying, the hardened, curled body of the millipede may persist for a long period.
MILLIPEDE CONTROL METHODS Millipede movements into homes typically occur during spring or fall, shortly after a period of rainfall. Eliminating sheltering debris around the foundation, sealing openings, and using insecticides around the exterior foundation will reduce household migrations.