How can I identify house centipedes?
House centipedes are probably most well-known for their many pairs of legs. In fact, centipede means “hundred-legger”, which is a bit misleading since their number of legs can range anywhere between 15 and 177 pairs.
House centipedes have a flat, long, segmented body that ranges in color from yellowish-gray to dark brown. They may also have dark stripes or other markings on their body. These creepy crawly insects have one pair of legs per body segment, with the first pairs of their limbs being referred to as maxillipeds. Their maxillipeds end in sharp claws and contain venom glands that the centipedes use to catch and paralyze their prey. Centipedes also have long, sensitive antennae that they use to help identify their prey.
Where do house centipedes nest?
Typically, house centipedes can be found living and nesting outside in dark, damp locations. House centipedes are nocturnal and hide out during the day, emerging at night to hunt for food. House centipedes are a predatory species and like to feed on spiders, carpet beetles, silverfish, flies, worms, and other small arthropods.
Why do I have a house centipede problem?
House Centipedes like to live outside, but because the places they like to live in – mulch, stones, landscaping ties, logs, and other vegetation – are often located near the foundation of homes, it is common for these leggy creatures to find their way inside. House Centipedes often make their way indoors if the weather outside becomes too hot and dry for their liking. Inside, centipedes are typically found invading damp, dark places that imitate their outdoor environment, such as basements, crawl spaces, laundry rooms, and underneath sinks.
Are house centipedes dangerous?
House centipedes are not considered to be dangerous, and typically pose no real threat to people. However, it is important to know that centipedes do have the potential to bite through the skin of a person, so purposely handling these creatures is never suggested. Their bites can be quite painful, similar to bee stings, but the good news is that their venom isn’t powerful enough to cause any real issues in humans.
How do I prevent house centipedes?
House centipedes can be a very difficult pest to battle, but the following tips can help to prevent house centipedes from choosing your home and property to invade:
- Make sure that any cracks in your home’s foundation are sealed.
- Ensure that all exterior doors, especially basement doors, have door sweeps installed.
- Seal any openings found around utilities entering your home through exterior walls.
- Rid your yard of debris like leaves, grass, sticks, and logs that centipedes could live underneath.
- Place any woodpiles you may have on your property a distance away from the exterior of your home, and store them up off the ground.
- Make sure there is a stone barrier between any mulch or soil and the foundation of your home.
- Reduce moisture levels in your home by using dehumidifiers in the basement, ventilated fans in bathrooms, and making sure that crawl spaces are properly ventilated.
How do I get rid of house centipedes?
The first step to getting rid of a house centipede infestation is to correctly identify the species living in your home, ensuring that the proper treatment is used to eliminate them. The best way to do this is to secure a pest professional service.
Our Superior Pest Solutions professionals visit your property to perform a detailed inspection and accurately identify the infestation. After an inspection and identification is completed, our professionals will treat your home and property, eliminating the house centipede infestation and preventing their return.
Contact Superior Pest Solutions to learn more about our comprehensive solution to house centipedes. House centipede treatment and control can be completed through our highly effective year-round pest control offering.