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Their venom is only toxic to other bugs and poses no fatal threat to humans or other animals. They primarily live in human structures like homes or other buildings, shying away from well-lit areas and going for places like basements, bathrooms, or kitchens where there is moisture. They go where it’ll be most comfortable for them, which gives them ideal conditions for reproduction and feeding. Seal holes, cracks, and gaps around the outside of your house to keep centipedes and other insect pests from getting inside. Repairing tears in screens and adding weather stripping to doors and windows also helps keep unwanted pests out.
Preventing Centipede Infestations
That’s what exterminators are there for, and they don’t judge because of infestations. They may look terrifying, but house centipedes are generally not dangerous in any way shape or form. That said, you certainly don’t need them in your home, and most homeowners care more about how to get rid of house centipedes than they do about their potential benefits. Centipedes like to live in warm, moist areas all around the world. Outdoor centipedes like to congregate in gardens, underneath piles of dead leaves and in stacks of firewood. Those that make their way into your home via cracks in the foundation and other openings might wind up in damp places like your basement, bathroom or even a potted plant.
Where Do House Centipedes Live?
Vacuum regularly, clean, and keep all house drains and pipes clean, well-maintained, and free of organic matter, eliminating all possible food sources. To eliminate house centipedes, block entry points, hiding places, and excess moisture in your home. Then, use traps, insecticides, or natural repellents to drive them out. In fact, centipedes are good for the ecosystem because they help control roaches, silverfish, flies, termites, and other pests.
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Close up any cracks and crevices in the foundation or exterior of your home to prevent centipedes (and other pests) from entering. Also, keep an eye on any other insects that you might find in your home. Centipedes eat insects, so if you get rid of their food source, you have a good chance of stopping centipedes in their (many) tracks.
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Their bodies are divided into 15 segments, each with a pair of long legs. Other species of centipedes have more legs, but they always have an odd number of pairs of legs. Read on to learn more about where house centipedes come from, what they look like, and what they eat, as well as what you can do to prevent a house centipede infestation and how to get rid of them. Dealing with a pill bug infestation can be frustrating, but with the right approach, you can eliminate them from your home.
Consequently, if you frequently find centipedes in your house, it may be a sign of a bigger pest problem. House centipedes are generally solitary, so infestations are rare. They can be found living in damp areas of the house, like basements, closets, and bathrooms.
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In North America, you most often will find centipedes outside in moist locations, hiding under protective areas such as stones, leaves, and logs. They will also come indoors, so it’s not unusual to find one in your house. The most common is the Scutigera coleoptrata, otherwise known as the house centipede. This yellowish-grey centipede will typically be a few inches long with more than 15 pairs of legs, making it among the fastest in the centipede family. 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.
Get rid of moisture
In most situations, it is recommended that you wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed toe shoes with socks, chemical resistant gloves, and goggles. In areas where ventilation is poor, a manufacturer may recommend you wear a mask or a respirator. We have put together two different safety kits that will make selecting the correct safety gear easier for you.
That said, if you have exhausted your DIY options, it may be time to call in the big guns. Calling your exterminator for help can sometimes be hard, but the only thing it usually is hard on is your pride. Unlike most pests, house centipedes spend almost all of their time indoors.
Unlike some other pests who are just looking for a cozy spot to hide away during the winter, centipedes are more than happy to take up residence in your house or crawlspace full time. According to Fixr, it costs an average of $400 to have a professional exterminator get rid of centipedes from your home. A consultation service only will cost less, while additional visits (or a larger home) might cost more. The best way to prevent house centipedes from accessing your home is to seal up all cracks and crevices. Examine the house, walls, foundation, and around doors and windows to identify and seal all possible entry points.
One visit might be all it takes, though there are options for multiple visits. Their round heads point downward and they don’t have forcipules because they don’t have to attack the damp, decaying wood and leaves they prefer to eat. Centipedes are long and move quickly, thanks to all those legs propelling them forward. If you’re averse to bugs, you probably won’t be happy to see one crawling around your home. Depending on the size and species, some centipedes may hunt small animals like lizards, snakes, birds, and frogs. As generalist carnivores, they will attack any soft-bodied creature they feel capable of killing and eating.
The following are some of the most common signs that your home might have a centipede problem. Millie Hurst is a freelance lifestyle writer with over six years of experience in digital journalism. She has written and edited countless features on home organization, decluttering and interior design and always hopes to inspire readers with new ways to enjoy their homes. She lives in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and loves to weave nature-inspired decor and nods to time spent in Italy into her own home. House centipedes are more interested in feasting on other, smaller insects than they are in engaging with humans.
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