Millipedes, pill bugs and sowbugs

Millipedes

Sometimes called “thousand-leggers”, commonly encountered millipedes can be as large as 4½” long and are usually brown or black. Many species protect themselves by secreting foul-smelling chemicals. They’re scavengers which feed mostly on decaying plant matter. Massive millipede migrations of hundreds or thousands sometimes occur, often as a result of heavy rains. They’re primarily a nuisance, but large numbers often require professional control.

Pill bugs and sowbugs

Pillbugs and sowbugs are actually crustaceans, similar to shrimp and lobsters, that have adapted to living completely on land. About ⅝” long, they feed on decaying vegetation. They require high moisture to survive and quickly die as a result of water loss when they enter a home