Question: We have one inch long, black, worm-like bugs found primarily on the kitchen floor. What could it be? Where would it come from? What products do you recomend?
ANSWER Probably what you have is the common millipede. They are characterized by the numerous legs on each side of the body, thus the name 'thousand legger'. These animals are common household invaders, especially from spring to fall.
They live outdoors in moist and decaying organic material (dead leaves, flower garden mulch, even the thatch layer in turfgrass), and usually go unnoticed at these locations. Sometimes millipede populations increase rapidly, or their environment get too wet and they start to migrate to get away from these conditions. They usually move to the sides of houses where it may be warmer and drier. Then some of them come inside under door thresholds and around windows at ground level.
The best control is to remove as much of the moist mulch from against the foundation and around doors as possible. A gap of 6 to 12 inches would really help reduce the number of pests that invade. Make certain the door thresholds are well sealed. An insecticide application around the outside foundation can also help keep them from coming inside.
