Centipedes have 100 legs. Similar to the silverfish, they prefer to hide in dark and damp places, such as under your bathroom sink or in the corners of your basement. They are nocturnal and move rather quickly (must be because of all of those legs!) If you see one darting across the floor, chances are they’re going to startle you – but that’s about the worst thing they can do to you. Centipedes are not dangerous. They do sometimes bite, and it can sting – but they are not poisonous or otherwise dangerous to humans. In fact, they are great at killing other bugs. Centipedes have a poisonous venom that will kill cockroaches, flies, and moths – they have even been known to kill bed bugs! Centipedes do not damage the structure of your home and they won’t bother with your food sources.
Preventing Centipedes in Your Home
Despite their almost useful nature of helping remove populations of other bugs in your home, most people do not want to share their home with centipedes. If you see a single centipede, sweep it into a container and let it free outside.
To prevent centipedes from moving into your home, try the following:
- Put a dehumidifier in damp areas of your home, such as the basement or bathroom
- Use the bathroom fan whenever you run the shower or bathtub
- Eliminate other household pests to remove sources of food from your home
- Remove leaves and other debris from around the perimeter of your home
- Seal all cracks and crevices in the foundation of your home to prevent entry and remove places for centipedes to lay their eggs
If you have an infestation of multiple centipedes, you should call for pest control solutions for help eliminating them from your home.
Year-Round Pest Control for Centipedes and Common Household Pests
To eliminate centipedes and other common household pests from your home, it is recommended that you hire a professional pest control company, like Parkway Pest Services. Our year-round pest control programs protect your home from over 30 common invaders, including carpenter ants, ticks, fleas, rodents, and spiders. We’ll visit your home four times a year and provide both interior and exterior services to eliminate and prevent pest infestations. Our PestGuard+ year-round pest control program also provides protection from termites.
It is much easier and more cost effective to prevent centipede and other pest infestations than it is to eliminate them after they’ve taken up residence in your home, give us a call today to see how we can help.