Lifted a pot and found this squirming mass of tiny gray coils on the damp soil. It looks like a living pile of metallic springs. Is this something to worry about?

Once inside, they usually don’t survive long because indoor air is too dry for them.

To reduce that problem, seal cracks around doors and foundation openings, replace worn weatherstripping, and keep leaf litter and mulch a little farther from entry points. A gap as small as 1/4 inch under a door can be enough. I’ve had the best luck by combining exterior cleanup with basic sealing, rather than focusing only on what’s already gotten inside.

11. The safest cleanup methods for families

If you find a cluster where children play or where guests will be walking barefoot, simple cleanup works well. A gloved hand, small shovel, or stiff piece of cardboard can be used to move them to a compost pile, wooded edge, or mulched bed farther from the house. If a few are indoors, vacuuming them up is often the easiest answer.

Afterward, wipe up any residue with warm