What are House Centipedes?
House Centipedes, also known as Scutigera coleoptrata, are nocturnal insects that can be found throughout the United States. They have elongated, worm-like bodies that vary in color, from yellowish to dark brown, and often have darker markings. These insects are normally between 1 to 1½ inches long and can have up to 15 pairs of legs. Centipedes live in high-humidity environments, such as basements, closets, or bathrooms, and only venture outside of their hiding spot in search of food.
Do House Centipedes Bite?
While centipedes bite insects to inject venom when they feed, they do not pose a threat to humans—they typically do not bite humans unless they feel the need to defend themselves.
Bites at Night
If your house has holes in the floor or walls or around the building, there is a possibility centipedes could be hiding in them. Since these nocturnal creatures are tiny, it is not easy to notice them in their hiding. But if you feel some tiny and uncatchable creatures biting or walking on your body at night, this is a sign you have house centipede infestations. Though they are poisonous, they don’t bite human skin. Therefore, bites could be from pests.
Baby Centipedes
Once house centipedes make their way into your home, they will reproduce and lay eggs. Once these eggs hatch, baby centipedes will infest your home. Baby centipedes are identical to adults.
What Causes Centipedes In The House
There are many things that could signify you have a house centipede infestation in your home. Here are some factors that can attract centipedes to your home:
You Have Other Pests In Your Home
One thing that causes centipedes in the house are the presence of pests. If you see pests in your home, be ready to take action because these creatures feed on them. House centipedes eat pests such as cockroaches, silverfish, spiders, and more. Therefore, if you do away with the pests, you will have taken away their source of food. This is essential to preventing a centipede infestation as early as possible.
Cold Weather Brings Them Indoors
Much like other pests, house centipedes search for warmth and comfort during the cooler seasons.
How Do Centipedes Get in Your House
The most common way centipedes get in your house is through little cracks and foundations as a point of entry. Once they are in, they find a dark damp place to live. You can see them in areas such as drains, crevices, basement cracks, and bathtubs.
How to Get Rid of A Centipede Infestation
Once you have identified a house centipede infestation, here are some tips on how to get rid of centipedes in your home:
- Make use of sticky straps: While sticky straps are useful for detecting various pests, they are also helpful for getting rid of house centipedes. You can get sticky straps from your nearest store.
- Use insecticides: In case of high house infestation, use insecticides. Some of the pesticides damage the nervous system that paralyzes it to death.
- Keep the house dry: By keeping your house dry, you will kill some of them and keep them away from your house. You can also use dehumidifiers to keep your home dry.
- Seal all crevices: These creatures find their way to your house through cracks in the walls. Do away with the spaces around the windows and doors. Cover the ground floor fixtures with a window screen.
Get Help From The Pest Professionals
House centipedes can be annoying just like most pests. Since they feed off of other pests, having them in your home can be a sign you have another underlying issue and can result in a big infestation. This is the best time to get professional pest control services in California. Vista Pest Control offers a satisfaction guarantee and a 24-hour phone line to help at any time.
