How to Get Rid of Centipedes House Centipede Treatment
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You can deal with house centipedes on your own with natural and chemical options or bring in the help of a pest control pro. Their legs enable them to move at astonishing speeds, making it a challenge for their prey to evade capture. In particular, two of their legs, located near the head and mouth, are specialized to carry venom. This venom paralyzes smaller insects when they are captured, rendering them helpless as a potential meal. Some consider house centipedes beneficial organisms, as they actively prey upon various household pests.

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Centipedes are generally dark brown or yellow and sometimes have darker colors and markings. Adult centipedes have three dark parallel lines running from their head to the rear end of their bodies and a hair-covered pair of antennae on their heads. While some centipede species have compound eyes containing up to 200 optical units, others have a few simple eyes on each side of the head. Use an expanding foam spray to seal any cracks or gaps arounds your doors, windows, siding or pipes.
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While harmless to humans, the microfossils found in diatomaceous earth have very sharp edges that kill the bugs without the use of toxic chemicals. Unlike pesticides, centipedes and other insects are unable to build up a tolerance to this material, which means that you can use this method for years to come. If you’re looking for a 100% natural method to kill centipedes, DE might be the right choice for you. House centipedes (scientifically referred to as “scutigera coleoptrata”) are insects that commonly invade homes and businesses, especially when moisture and food is available.
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Orkin also offers a free, extensive pest research library online that you can use to learn more about the critters giving you trouble. While everyone wants to believe that they can solve every bug problem themselves, the truth is that some centipede infestations require professional assistance. Professional pest elimination companies also have access to higher-grade equipment and chemicals. These commercial-grade pesticides and insecticides require specialized application but provide you with more comprehensive results. If over-the-counter treatments for centipedes and millipedes aren’t working in your home, a professional pest control company might have advanced or stronger options that will do the trick. In most cases, the same residual insecticide that you used to spray indoors can also be sprayed along the perimeter of your home to create a pest barrier.
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The house centipede is an arthropod, a genus that includes insects as well as centipedes, millipedes, arachnids (spiders) and crustaceans (such as lobsters). The house centipede originated in the Mediterranean but now can be found across Europe, Asia, and North America. Although you may not like the sight of house centipedes, they can be helpful in controlling more concerning pests.
Prevention is the best way to keep your home centipede-free and more comfortable for you and your family. Preventing house centipedes from invading your home is an essential step in maintaining a pest-free environment. In my experience, bites from these creatures are exceedingly rare.
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House centipedes will only stay where they have an ample food source. Put out sticky traps to catch the bugs centipedes are eating, then eradicate that food source with your favorite conventional or natural pesticide and the house centipedes will go elsewhere, too. Centipedes are also partial to moisture, so investigate to ensure there are no leaky pipes or appliances that need repair.
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The best way to prevent centipedes from entering your home is to seal up cracks and openings that would permit them to enter in the first place. If you are dealing with another insect problem, like spiders or cockroaches, take care of that situation quickly; otherwise, centipedes will be first in line at the buffet. All those legs belong to one centipede, though, so a single creature doesn’t mean you have an infestation.
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Centipedes, on the other hand, start to weasel their way into your home because your house provides plenty of dark, damp areas for them to live year-round. House centipedes can strike fear into just about anyone who encounters them inside their home. These pests have worm-like bodies with multiple sets of long, creepy legs. House centipedes prefer to stay out of sight, so if you encounter one, it will most likely be an unwelcome surprise for both you and the centipede. Orkin also calls excessive clutter the ideal habitat for these hideous creatures, so take the time to remove centipedes' comfortable homes while giving you a nicer space to live and work in.
Learning how to get rid of centipedes naturally is not complicated. You start by removing the elements in your home that allow them to thrive, including damp areas and other pests. Once you are sure that you have eliminated the ideal environment for house centipedes so they won’t return, you can start getting rid of the ones that are currently in your home. These creatures crave moisture, and when they move indoors through cracks in foundations and around ground-level windows, it is usually when outdoor conditions have become hot and dry. Once indoors, millipedes and centipedes often hide in cracks and crevices over winter, emerging in spring.
He started Green Pest Management, Delaware-based pest control company, nine years ago. With his background and experience he is knowledgeable about a variety of pests, pest activity, and ways of dealing with infestations. Yes, there are natural repellents like essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, or citrus that can help deter house centipedes. Placing cotton balls soaked in these oils in potential entry points can discourage them from entering. House centipedes are mysterious, speedy creatures that can give anyone a startle when encountered in their homes. As an ex-professional pest control technician and DIY pest control expert, I understand the unease these arthropods can bring.
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