A Thousand Little Feet and Other Critters

We had a termite inspection when we bought our house and found out that there was some old termite damage and that our neighborhood had a termite problem generally (is there a neighborhood that doesn't have a termite problem). The company sprayed but said that we didn't seem to have an active termite population. We didn't sign any kind of maintenance contract with them and we haven't noticed any signs of termites since. However, the possibility of an infestation has been in the back of my mind since then, so I've been meaning to get on some kind of annual maintenance plan, just for peace of mind.

Another creepy critter in our lives right now are these (not the cat--the tiny specks on the floor): millipedes!

I guess even with a sump pump and a dehumidifier, our basement is attracting these nasty little things, which makes me nervous that we're not as tightly sealed as we should be. Or something...

Honestly I'm not really sure what they mean. Maybe they're just an inevitable inhabitant in a basement? They're not really so bad--a quick pass with the vacuum every few days and they're gone. Or maybe they suggest a scary problem that we need to repair? I've been reading mixed information. I know they're getting in where the wall and floor meet (or at least that's how they're getting past the drywall--I don't know if there are...ick...lots of them lurking behind the wall). But is sealing that space up so necessary? It sounds like it would require that we completely gut the basement...

In any case, both of these issues have made me determined to have a pest control company come out and take a look. Or two. I guess it depends on the advice we get and whether we think we need a second opinion. If you have any advice for us, please leave a comment!