House centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata) are distinguished from othercentipedesby their longer legs.
Read on to learn how to control, prevent, and remove house centipedes.
What Are House Centipedes?
The Spruce / Madelyn Goodnight
The centipede goes through six larval molts and four adult molts before reaching maturity.
Females can survive several years and produce up to 150 offspring.
They tend to hide during daylight and come out at night to forage for prey.
House centipedes are attracted to damp spaces, and this includes drainsMotionshooter / Getty Images
Motionshooter / Getty Images
Should You Get Rid of House Centipedes?
Do House Centipedes Bite?
you’ve got the option to leave it for a few days, then vacuum up.
Wait at least 24 hours before vacuuming.
Clean and/or seal external entry points
House centipedes are attracted to things that help them hide.
Pouring some vinegar or bleach down the drain will usually keep them out.
Use one-half cup of vinegar, wait an hour, then another half cup.
For bleach, use a 50:50 water/bleach solution.
Warning
Never mix vinegar and bleach.
The combination can form a toxic chlorine gas.
What Attracts House Centipedes?
Once temperatures begin to get colder in autumn they may want to find an indoor hiding place.
They also seek out damp spaces in the midst of drought.
They don’t carry disease likemosquitos, either.
Using a dehumidifier in warmer months may make a difference in the number of house centipedes in your home.
It is especially important to repair plumbing leaks and keep basement and attic spaces dry.
Seal cracks and openings
Making sure cracks are sealed near windows can help keep house centipedes out.
Clean up damp areas
Check out damp areas around the foundation of the home.
Remove leaves and weeds and seal cracks to prevent any seepage of moisture into your home.
A centipede can die instantly when sprayed with a pesticide that lists bifenthrin or cypermethrin as an active ingredient.
These pesticides come in indoor or outdoor formulations.
Before going for the nuclear option, try non-toxic methods to get rid of centipedes.
Bedrooms that are damp, dark, and humid that contain other insects are attractive to centipedes.
In these conditions, a centipede could crawl into your bed, a nightmare-inducing thought.
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679-704, 2015. doi:10.3390/toxins7030679
Diatomaceous Earth.
National Pesticide Information Center.
National Capital Poison Control Center.
