caterpillars in walk-in basement - Ask Extension
Hello MSU Extension Office, In the last 4-5 days I have discovered 15-20 caterpillars in my walk-in basement. Some are alive and crawling slowly a...
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caterpillars in walk-in basement #811547
Asked September 20, 2022, 12:58 PM EDT
Hello MSU Extension Office,
In the last 4-5 days I have discovered 15-20 caterpillars in my walk-in basement. Some are alive and crawling slowly around, and others are dead, curled up. I am hoping you can tell me what kind of caterpillar I have. I attach a photo of several of them in a jar.
Many thanks.
Washtenaw County Michigan
Expert Response
Additional information: In the photo, the jar bottom has a diameter of 3 inches.
Those are not caterpillars, in fact, not even insects. They are millipedes. They have two pairs of legs on almost every segment, and they don't grow up to be anything different, this is their permanent body form. Millipedes often come into buildings through openings or gaps at ground level. They have a high humidity requirement, so the ones that get inside often die off quickly due to less relative humidity inside buildings.
Millipedes are scavengers, feeding on almost anything with some organic content, but they are usually feeding on dead plant material or dead insects.
Millipedes are scavengers, feeding on almost anything with some organic content, but they are usually feeding on dead plant material or dead insects.
This information is very helpful. Many thanks!
you are welcome.
