House centipedes are a fairly common pest in the United States, and the word centipede means “one hundred feet.” However, centipedes do not actually have one hundred feet, because they always have an odd number of leg pairs. In this article, we’re going to go over some control methods that you can use if you find centipedes in your home.
What is a centipede?
There are many centipede species, with some of them being very aggressive, and able to deliver an extremely painful sting. Luckily, the dangerous centipedes rarely enter the home. The centipedes that do enter the home are known as house centipedes, and they are fairly small, with about 30 legs. These insects are not very dangerous, being mostly shy, with a sting that leads to some itching and redness, but nothing serious. They basically resemble silverfish, and you will usually find them in the bathroom or the kitchen sink, in areas that have high levels of humidity.
Getting rid of house centipedes
Getting rid of these insects is fairly straightforward. All you have to do is buy an insecticide or repellent that targets centipedes, and then apply it to areas where you see centipedes crawling around. You can also use these products to create a protective barrier around doors and window casings, and on the baseboards. If you do not have any insecticides on hand, you can vacuum up centipedes from a safe distance. Just make sure that you throw out the vacuum back afterwards, otherwise the centipedes will escape.
To ensure long term protection for your home, you will have to reduce the conditions that lead to an infestation. The main draw for centipedes is moisture, so if you can get rid of it, or lower it, your home will be a lot less attractive to these insects. Make sure that you repair water leaks, use dehumidifiers in your basement, and that you install exhaust fans in your attic and bathroom to remove any excess moisture. You also want to remove clutter, because it makes for a great shelter.
If you have a large infestation of centipedes, it will need to be handled by a pro. This is where we can help you out. If you see house centipedes crawling around on a regular basis, and no other control method can help you remove them from the home, give us a call and we can set up an appointment to get rid of them.