Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs 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).
Millipede migration into Hot Springs properties typically follows predictable conditions: saturated outdoor soil pushes populations toward drier indoor environments, and foundation gaps provide access. Centipedes arrive independently — tracking the cockroaches, silverfish, and other insects that occupy the same basement and crawlspace environments they prefer.
Identifying Which Species You Have in Hot Springs
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 Hot Springs
Lasting centipede and millipede control in Hot Springs requires two parallel actions: chemical treatment to reduce the current population, and environmental modification to remove the moisture and harborage conditions that will sustain a new one. Perimeter treatment alone produces short-term results. Addressing root conditions produces lasting ones.