Seems like we have an infestation of centipede worms in the front lawn of our house.

Like a horror movie, you can see them by the thousands crawling up the side of the house and our walkway.

They manage to crawl into our house. We did replace all door/window insulation and still have this nuisance getting inside our home.

Our bug/fertilizing company tells us they have no chemicals to kill these worms. Is there any way you can find help for us?

-- Fred Mingel, via e-mail

A.We contacted William H. Kern, Jr., associate professor of entomology & nematology at the University of Florida's Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.

He said you are describing yellow banded millipedes.

``This new species of invasive millipede arrived in South Florida several years ago. It has become very successful, thriving first in Dade County and now spreading northward into Broward and Palm Beach counties,'' he said.

``They feed on decaying plant material and thrive in mulched beds and compost piles. They can occur in huge numbers and are accidental home invaders,'' Kern said.

Though they can't survive for long indoors, he agrees they are a nuisance. He said they are susceptible to several pesticides (Temprid and Transport GHP).

``They can be discouraged from coming into a building by applying a barrier spray on hard surfaces (patios, walkways, sidewalks) and around exterior doors,'' he said. ``They are harmless to people and actually help return nutrients to the soil by decomposing plant debris.''

Kern suggested it may help if you reduce mulched landscape beds close to exterior doorways.

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