Spotting any pest in your home can be a sign of concern. You may feel confident in identifying common pests like flies or ants, and you might already know what you need to do to control their presence. However, some pests are not as common and you might be confused about how to deal with them. Centipedes often fall into this category. Maybe all that you know about centipedes is that they are long creatures with lots of legs. You may be left with many questions, such as “why do they get into homes” and “how can I get rid of them?” We’ve put together some answers to help you out.
Centipede Identification & Behavior
Centipedes are long bugs with many legs and though many people often think they have 100 legs, this isn’t true for all species. Centipedes always have an odd number of pairs of legs. They can have anywhere from 15 pairs of legs to 177 pairs of legs. Centipedes can range in color from yellow to brown, and they may have darker stripes or other markings. They are nocturnal and carnivorous, eating other pests like flies and spiders.
The most common centipede you’ll find in your home is the house centipede, which has only fifteen pairs of legs and is light yellow or brown with long legs. It can be quite an intimidating pest to find! Luckily, house centipedes only grow to be less than two inches, as opposed to some species of centipede which can grow to be over six inches.
The Dangers Of Centipedes
Centipedes are carnivorous and they are venomous, however, they are not dangerous to humans. While some large species of centipede can bite humans and break the skin, the venom is not strong enough to have any serious effects—though the bite may sting. House centipedes aren’t likely to bite and most likely wouldn’t break the skin if they did. However, this doesn’t mean that centipedes should be welcome in your home. They are unsightly and can appear in large numbers throughout the house. Call the professionals at Romney Pest Control today to keep yourself and your home safe!
Centipede Prevention
Because centipedes are such a common house invader, we’ve put together a guide on how to protect your home from these pests. Here are some steps you can take:
- Reduce moisture: Centipedes love moisture and are attracted to cool damp areas. They are often found in basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and crawlspaces. Make sure these areas have proper ventilation and use a dehumidifier if necessary to further reduce the humidity and dissuade centipedes from staying inside.
- Limit hiding places: Along with preventing moisture, you want to make it difficult for centipedes to hide in and around your home. In the wild, they hide under rocks, logs, and piles of debris. In your home, they might hide under boxes, in shelves, or under appliances. It’s important to clean under these areas frequently and to make sure there is no debris in your yard that may be attracting centipedes closer to the home.
- Block entry points: Another important step is to limit their access to get inside. This means inspecting the exterior of your home for holes and cracks that may be allowing them entry and using steel wool or caulking to fill them in and prevent entry.
- Invest in on-going pest control: By partnering with pest control professionals and by investing in on-going pest prevention with Romney Pest Control, you can be sure that they will stop the first sign of an infestation. You don’t need to share your home with these long-legged pests. Let us keep your home clear of centipedes!
