How to Get Rid of House Centipedes Naturally
Chances are you’ve seen a house centipede, and the knowledge of how to get rid of house centipedes becomes paramount. The fast and agile house centipede has a habit of showing up unexpectedly, especially after a shower or when you’re carrying something fragile.
For people who get easily scared by bugs, these creepy, long-legged creatures can be really scary.
But here’s the good news – there are ways to deal with and get rid of centipedes in the house. The important issue is how to get rid of house centipedes.
What are House Centipedes?
The house centipede is a common type of centipede you might find in the Eastern United States.
It’s small, about one or two inches long, with a surprising 15 sets of legs. Don’t worry, though – it’s generally harmless to humans unless you bother it and it decides to bite.
These centipedes move quickly to catch other bugs, much like little hunters in your home. Despite their frightening appearance, they are beneficial to homeowners.
House centipedes are beneficial because they eat pests such as cockroaches, moths, ants, spiders, and even termites.
They have a mild venom that they use to slow their prey before pouncing on them and wrapping them in their many legs.
So, even though they might frighten you, house centipedes are like natural pest control agents in your home.
They don’t spread diseases, damage your home, or bother your food – they just go after the bugs you probably don’t want around.
How to Get Rid of House Centipedes in Your Home
Getting rid of house centipedes is manageable with these few steps steps:
1. Cut Off their Food Supply
Begin by targeting the pests that house centipedes feed on. Use sticky traps to capture spiders, ants, and flies.
Placing these traps strategically in areas where you’ve noticed house centipedes can help reduce their prey and make your home less appealing to them. Regularly check and replace the traps to maintain their effectiveness.
2. Keep Your Home Clean
Reduce potential hiding spots and entry points for pests by maintaining a clean living environment.
Regularly vacuum and clean floors, especially in dark and humid areas where house centipedes thrive. Also, pay attention to basements, bathrooms, and crawl spaces.
3. Use a Dehumidifier
Using a dehumidifier is a practical way to deal with house centipedes. These bugs really like warm and damp places and high humidity makes them feel right at home.
When you run a dehumidifier, it helps make the air in your home less moist.
4. Use a Bathroom Fan
When you take showers, the steam can make your bathroom humid, which centipedes like.
Installing a bathroom fan helps get rid of the extra moisture, making it less inviting for these bugs.
5. Seal Up Cracks and Gaps
Check around your home for any openings where centipedes can sneak in.
Closing these gaps, especially around doors and windows, helps keep not only centipedes but also other pests out.
6. Insect killers
If you spot centipedes, you can use insect killers to get rid of them. These products create a protective barrier around doors, windows, and baseboards.
For centipedes in tight spots, you can use a product like Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Cracks and crevices.
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7. Natural Repellents
Some natural substances may act as repellents for centipedes.
These include diatomaceous earth, boric acid, and essential oils like peppermint or citrus. Sprinkle or spray these in areas where centipedes are present.
8. Professional Pest Control
Pest control experts will carefully check your entire home to figure out where the centipedes are coming from and what’s making them stick around.
They want to find the root cause of the problem and understand why centipedes are hanging out in your house.
Are House Centipedes Dangerous to Humans?
Yes, house centipedes can bite, but they’re not dangerous to people.
According to Donnie Shelton from Triangle Pest Control, they have their venom, which is potent against insects but doesn’t do much to humans.
House centipedes are usually shy and try to avoid humans. If they feel trapped or threatened, they might bite, and it can feel a bit like a fire ant bite.
However, in general, they prefer to stay far away from people.
Should I Kill a House Centipede?
This pest doesn’t harm your health, doesn’t make webs or nests inside, and is good at getting rid of other bugs.
If you can, it’s better not to kill them when you spot them. Instead, move them outside.
Think of it as getting them to work for you. They’ll hunt bugs outdoors and help keep your property pest-free.
To make this effective all year, consider getting professional pest control. This will protect your home from unwanted invaders and let centipedes do their job outside without coming into your living spaces.
How Do Centipedes Invade Our Living Spaces?
Ever wondered why house centipedes show up in your home? It’s simple – they like dark and damp places.
These centipedes enter your home in search of such spots with access to their favorite snacks like cockroaches, spiders, ants, or termites.
If you reduce the number of bugs in your home, you’ll decrease the chances of seeing house centipedes.
To keep house centipedes away, you need to deal with what attracts them. Get rid of extra moisture and darkness in your home because these are the conditions centipedes like.
Keep your home clean and dry, fix any ways they could get in, and you’ll make it much less likely to find these creepy crawlers in your living space.
