Jun 8, 2022 | Pest Control
While centipedes can be unsettling to find in your home, they aren’t actually harmful to humans and can be quite beneficial to have around. Centipedes will eat almost any other kind of bug (even other centipedes!) and can help keep other pest populations down. While they can bite humans, these instances are rare. They also don’t cause damage to your home. How do you know if you’re just seeing a random bug or if you’re dealing with a full-fledged infestation? Here are some common signs of a centipede infestation.
Seeing Centipedes Inside
The most common sign of a centipede infestation is seeing them in your home. Centipedes are yellow to dark brown with elongated bodies, about 1″ to 1-1/2″ in length. They also have dark stripes running down their backs. They can have up to 15 pairs of legs extending from their bodies with their hind legs longer than the other legs (often mistaken for antennae). Centipedes are usually seen at night and are commonly found near damp areas of your home.
Seeing Other Pests Inside
Centipedes will eat other bugs like ants, roaches, spiders, bed bugs, and silverfish. As the populations of these other pests increase in and around your home, so will centipedes looking for a meal. On the flip side, seeing an increased number of centipedes in your home could also indicate you have a problem with other pests, as well.
Time of the Year
Centipede infestations are more common in spring and fall than they are in summer and winter. Spring is the time of year when centipede eggs hatch. Any overwintering pests that have laid eggs inside your home will emerge in abundance when the weather warms up. Centipedes also become more prevalent in the fall when temperatures start dropping. They can’t survive temps below freezing so they will make their way indoors looking for warmth and shelter during the winter. They are especially attracted to moisture and will often be found in basements and bathrooms.
Centipedes can get into your home through cracks in the exterior or in foundations. Once inside, they’ll then hide out in dark damp places, such as drains, cracks, crevices, bathtubs, and sinks.
Getting rid of centipedes can be a challenge. If you have a problem with centipedes in your home, try:
- Using traps. Sticky traps work best and can be bought at your local hardware store.
- Drying out your home. Centipedes are attracted to moisture. Repair any leaks immediately. Use a dehumidifier when possible.
- Sealing cracks and crevices. Centipedes love to sneak in through small cracks and crevices. Seal or repair these as soon as possible. Use weatherstripping around doors and windows. Use window and door screens when possible, also.
- Pest Control. Because centipedes feed on other pests, consider routine pest control to help keep all of these nuisance pests away from your home. Contact your local pest control company for an evaluation and recommendations.
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Oct 27, 2021 | Pest Control
Centipedes are a common household pest. Although they range in color, the most common species are grayish-yellow with dark stripes. Most centipedes grow up to 1″ long although the largest species has been recorded at a whopping 6″ in length. Each body segment on a centipede contains a pair of legs and they can range anywhere from 15 pairs to 177 pairs. They also have hairy antennae which they can use to detect their prey. Centipedes can move fast – up to 16 inches per second!
Centipedes can be found in a variety of climates – desert, temperate, wetlands, and even forests. Like most pests, they are in search of three things: food, moisture, and warm shelter. For this reason they will often make their way into your home. Centipedes thrive in dark, cool, damp environments that are close to a food source. They can often be found under rocks, logs, and under debris. They are nocturnal, coming out at night to search for prey that includes beetles, roaches, crickets, spiders, worms, and silverfish. Unlike their millipede cousins, they do not eat wood or decaying material.
Centipedes will make their way indoors through drains, holes, cracks, gaps, and poorly sealed windows and doors. Once inside, they are commonly found inside cement walls, in boxes, under clutter, in drains, and under sinks in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. What makes centipedes take up refuge inside your home? Centipedes are attracted to homes by three major things:
- Food Sources: Centipedes feed on other pests that are commonly found in and around your home. An infestation of roaches, ants, spiders, or other insects provides a feast for incoming centipedes.
- Heat: While centipedes typically prefer to stay outdoors, drought or cold weather can send them indoors in search of warmth. Heated homes provide the ideal environment for overwintering pests to come indoors.
- Moisture: Centipedes love moist environments. Leaks and standing water will draw in these pests, along with many of their friends.
While centipedes are capable of biting and injecting venom (which they use to subdue their prey), they rarely bite humans and, when they do, their bites don’t usually puncture the skin. Centipedes are considered beneficial to have around since they help keep other pest populations in check.
Centipedes can be prevented by getting rid of the things that are attracting them in the first place. Seal any cracks, holes, and gaps in foundations and around doors and windows. Repair any leaks and get rid of standing water. Keep piles of wood and leaves away from your home. Declutter your house, garage, and basement. Keep pests under control with routine pest control service.
If you have a problem with centipedes or any other pests, contact your local pest control company for a comprehensive analysis to help identify any pest problems and recommend the most appropriate treatment options.
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Jun 25, 2021 | Pest Control
Although they are often confused with each other, millipedes and centipedes are two completely different pests. While both are classified as arthropods, the similarities end there. Which one is more dangerous to humans – millipede vs centipede?
Centipedes have bodies composed of many segments with one pair of legs on each segment. These long legs extend from the sides of their bodies and trail backwards behind them, making them very visible. These legs enable centipedes to move very quickly. They also have long antenna. Centipedes do have the capability to bite and are classified as predators, killing and eating their prey.
Millipedes, on the other hand, are the opposite. These arthropods have only 1 pair of legs on their first 3 body segments but then two pairs of legs for each body segment after those. Their legs are shorter and do not trail behind their bodies like centipedes do. These shorter legs make millipedes move much slower than their long-legged counterparts. Millipedes are also unable to bite. They are scavengers and do not kill prey to feed.
So which one is more dangerous? When millipedes are disturbed they will curl into a tight ball similar to a pill bug or “roly poly.” Since they are unable to bite, they emit a foul-smelling fluid that can cause irritation to the skin and eyes of humans if handled. Centipedes, on the other hand, will bite humans on occasion if they are disturbed. A centipede bite is similar to that of a bee sting, leaving behind a red bump that can swell, itch or sting. Despite these defensive mechanisms, neither millipedes nor centipedes are considered dangerous to humans or pets. Neither of these pests are known to transmit diseases or contaminate food, furniture, or plants either.
Although they aren’t considered harmful to humans, we still tend to be a little leery of their presence. You can prevent millipedes and centipedes by:
- Repairing any leaks and removing standing water from around your home. Remove any moisture-holding ground cover and organic material that is close to your home’s foundation. Moisture is necessary for the survival of both of these species.
- Store firewood away from the house and elevated off the ground. Inspect it for any pests prior to bringing it into your home.
- Seal any doors or windows that are low to the ground to help prevent easy entry into your home.
If you have a problem with millipedes or centipedes, contact your local pest control company who can help identify which of these pests you have, as well as help identify how they are getting into your home and the best method to eliminate them and prevent them from returning.
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