Ministry issues guide to help Barbadians manage millipede infestations

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security has issued a guide to help Barbadians combat the recent increase in millipede sightings across several districts.

With reports of these nocturnal arthropods invading homes during wet and cool weather, the Ministry is providing a comprehensive guide to help households prevent and control millipede infestations.

Below is the detailed guide on how to prevent and control millipedes in your home:

1. Prevention Measures

Preventing millipedes from entering your home is the most effective way to manage them. This involves eliminating their entry points and reducing the conditions they find favorable.

a. Seal Entry Points

Inspect and Seal Cracks: Millipedes can slip through small cracks and gaps. Inspect windows, doors, and the foundation of your home, and seal any gaps or cracks with caulk or weatherstripping.

Check for Gaps in Doors and Windows: Ensure that doors and windows close tightly. Install door sweeps to prevent millipedes from crawling under doors.

Install Door Sweeps: Fit door sweeps on all exterior doors to prevent millipedes from crawling underneath

b. Maintain Dry Conditions

Millipedes are attracted to moisture. Reducing humidity inside your home can discourage them from entering:

Use Dehumidifiers: In damp areas, like basements, use a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture levels.

Fix Leaks: Repair any leaking pipes, faucets, or roofing to prevent water accumulation.

Improve Ventilation: Ensure proper airflow in enclosed spaces to keep them dry.

c. Manage Outdoor Areas

Millipedes often congregate around homes, especially in moist, shaded environments:

Clear Organic Debris: Remove mulch, leaves, and piles of wood near the foundation of your home. These provide shelter and moisture for millipedes.

Trim Vegetation: Keep plants, shrubs, and grass trimmed away from the exterior walls of your home to reduce hiding places.

Maintain a Clear Perimeter: Keep a 2-3 foot vegetation-free zone around your home’s foundation by trimming plants and grass.

Grade Soil Away from the House: Ensure proper drainage to avoid water pooling near your home’s foundation.

Rake the thatch from freshly cut grass since they can live underneath this material and the raking allows for the proper aeration and drying of the affected area which reduces the level of the infestation.

2. Natural Control Methods– Managing indoors

Those that stray indoors will die rather quickly because of the lack of moisture, these can then be swept out or vacuumed up. Use PPE such as gloves when completing task.

If millipedes have already entered your home, several natural methods can help remove them and prevent further infestations.

a. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

How it Works: DE is a fine powder made from fossilized algae. It’s non-toxic to humans and pets but deadly to millipedes as it dehydrates them.

Application: Sprinkle DE around entry points like doorways, windowsills, and along baseboards inside the house. Outdoors, apply it around the foundation.

Reapply after rain or heavy cleaning.

b. Essential Oils

How it Works: Certain essential oils act as natural repellents for millipedes. Oils like peppermint, tea tree, and cedarwood oils cinnamon,neem oil and eucalyptus can deter them.

Application: Mix 10-15 drops of oil with 1 liter of water in a spray bottle and apply to areas where millipedes are entering your home and spray along windows, doors, and cracks.

Reapply every 7-10 days or after rain

c. Salt

How it Works: Salt can be an effective deterrent for millipedes, as it draws moisture out of their bodies.

Application: Sprinkle salt around entry points or along the perimeter of the home to create a barrier millipedes won’t cross.

d. Physical Barriers

Sticky Traps: Place traps near areas where millipedes are seen to capture them passively.

3. Insecticidal Methods

If natural methods are insufficient, insecticides can be used to effectively control millipedes especially where high populations are observed. Always follow label instructions for safety.

a. Insecticidal Sprays

How it Works: Commercial insecticidal sprays containing active ingredients like permethrin,fipronil, cyfluthrin or bifenthrin can kill millipedes on contact.

Application Guidelines:

Application: Apply the insecticide directly to areas where millipedes are entering your home, such as cracks, crevices, and doorways. Be sure to ventilate the area well and avoid spraying on surfaces where food is prepared.

Spray a 2-3 foot wide barrier around the home’s perimeter, focusing on cracks, crevices, and foundation walls.

Indoors (if warranted), apply sprays sparingly along baseboards and entry points. Always leave area after application of pesticides.

Distance: Maintain a consistent spray distance of 12-18 inches from the surface.

Reapplication Interval: Reapply every 4-6 weeks for residual insecticides or as per the label’s instructions.

Keep pets from the area until the spray has dried completely and indoors until it has also dried.

b. Granular Insecticides

How it Works: Granular insecticides, such as those containing carbaryl or permethrin, can be scattered around the perimeter of your home. Mechanism: Granules provide long-term outdoor protection.

Application:

Spread granules in a 3-5 foot band around the home’s foundation.

Water the granules lightly to activate the insecticide.ex. Merit or Imidacloprid

Reapplication Interval: Every 8-12 weeks.

Application: Follow manufacturer instructions to apply the granules, focusing on areas where millipedes are likely to enter.

c. Bait Traps

How it Works: Some commercial millipede traps contain attractants and pesticides. These traps lure millipedes in, where they are trapped and killed.

Application: Place traps in areas where millipedes have been seen or near potential entry points.

4. Post-Control Measures

After applying your preferred control method, it’s important to monitor for any remaining millipedes and keep your home sealed and dry to prevent further issues.

Regularly Check for New Entry Points: Periodically inspect your home for new cracks or gaps that could provide access for millipedes.

Remove Dead Millipedes: Dispose of dead millipedes promptly to avoid attracting other pests.

The Ministry’s guide emphasises the importance of a proactive approach to managing millipede infestations. By sealing entry points, controlling moisture levels, and using a mix of natural and insecticidal methods, residents can reduce the likelihood of millipede problems.

Regular home maintenance and continued attention to potential entry points can help maintain a millipede-free environment, ensuring a more comfortable living space.

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