What are Centipedes in the House?
House centipedes, also called Scutigera coleoptrata, are insects that come out at night and can be found all over the U.S. They have long bodies that look like worms. They can be yellowish or dark brown, and they often have darker spots. Most of the time, these bugs are about 1 to 112 inches long, and they can have up to 15 pairs of legs. Centipedes live in places with a lot of moisture, like basements, closets, or bathrooms. They only leave their hiding place to look for food.
Do centipedes in the house bite?
Centipedes bite insects to inject venom when they eat, but they are not dangerous to people. They usually don’t bite people unless they feel like they need to protect themselves.
Nighttime Bites
If your house has holes in the floor, walls, or outside, centipedes could be hiding in them. These creatures that come out at night are small, so it is hard to find them when they are hiding. But if you feel tiny animals that you can’t catch biting or walking on you at night, this is a sign that you have house centipedes. They are deadly, but they don’t bite people. So, bugs could be the cause of bites.
Centipede Babies
As soon as house centipedes get into your house, they will have babies and lay eggs. When these eggs hatch, baby centipedes will move into your home and take over. The babies look just like the adults.
What Makes Centipedes Come Inside?
There are a lot of signs that you have an outbreak of house centipedes in your home. Here are some reasons why centipedes might come to your house:
There are other bugs in your house.
Pests are one of the things that bring centipedes into the house. If you see bugs in your house, be ready to do something about them because these animals eat them. Pests like cockroaches, silverfish, spiders, and more are eaten by house centipedes. So, if you get rid of the pests, you will be taking away their food source. This is very important if you want to stop a centipede invasion as soon as possible.
The cold weather makes them come inside.
In the fall and winter, house centipedes look for warmth and comfort, just like other pests.
How Do Centipedes Get Inside?
Most of the time, centipedes get into your house through small cracks and holes in the base. Once they get in, they find a dark, damp place to live. You can find them in places like drains, cracks in the basement, bathtubs, and gaps.
How to Get Rid of an Infestation of Centipedes
Once you know that you have a house centipede problem, here are some tips on how to get rid of them:
- Use sticky straps. Sticky straps can be used to find different pests, but they can also be used to get rid of house centipedes. Sticky bands can be bought at any store nearby.
- Use insecticides. If your house has a lot of bugs, use insecticides. Some of the chemicals hurt the nervous system so much that the animal can’t move and dies.
- Keep the house dry. If you keep your house dry, some of them will die and the rest will stay away. Dehumidifiers are another way to keep your home dry.
- Seal all cracks and holes. These creatures get into your home through holes in the walls. Get rid of the areas around the doors and windows. Use a window screen to cover the things on the bottom floor.
Get Help from People Who Deal With Pests
Like most bugs, house centipedes can be a pain. Since they eat other bugs, having them in your house can be a sign of a bigger problem and lead to a big infestation. This is the best time for people in California to hire a professional pest control service. Thousand Oaks Pest Control guarantees that you will be happy with their service and has a phone line that is open 24 hours a day.
