The name centipede is a misnomer. The name should suggest that they have a hundred legs; the truth is they only have 15 pairs of legs. Centipedes are small anthropods that are pests in your house. Those found in the house are called the house centipede. Most house centipedes are yellowish- gray and have stripes down the length of their bodies. They can be found not just in the United States, but also worldwide. They are about 3 to 6 mm in size. Centipedes are actually born with only 16 legs, which increases over time. They are nocturnal, meaning they are active only during the night, and they move very fast.
What Do They Eat?
Centipedes eat wasps, spiders, bed bugs, termites, silverfish, and other insects. In a way, they are your mini-exterminators. They have venom that they use to subdue their prey.
Habitat
They are most of the time found in warm, humid climates but are highly adaptable and capable of surviving anywhere. They can also move into your house where it is nice and warm and plenty of food to hunt down. Centipedes are not really dangerous to humans. They do bite sometimes; try picking up a centipede with your bare hands and they will bite you. They become nuisance pests when you see many of them crawling in your house.
Control
In order to prevent centipede infestation, here are a few steps to do:
- Repair cracks, holes, and other openings with caulking. Centipedes are capable of getting in your homes once they spot openings.
- Use Diatomaceous earth. Put some in your doors. Windows, and other openings. Put some around the foundations too. This would effectively kill the millipedes.
- Check your homes for other insects and get rid of them too. These insects are food for the centipedes, so removing them will also discourage centipedes to infest your home.
- Remove paper, piles of leaves, garbage, grass cuttings, rocks, and wood on your property.
- Reduce moisture around your house. Repair leaking faucets and pipes. Loom under your sinks, and in the bathroom. Centipedes love damp or wet areas. Seal off cracks, gaps, and holes which the centipedes can use as entry points.
If the problem becomes too big for you to handle, you might need to call the professionals. The presence of centipedes could also mean the presence of some other pests which the centipedes feed on. In this case, there is Go-Forth Home Services Company to help you solve all your pest problems.
The Leader In Pest Control
Go - Forth Pest Control is the leader in pest control in, serving customers since 1959. They have excellent experience in exterminating pests, with a team of highly skilled and well - trained professionals who use state- of- the- art equipment and a method that is both family and pet-friendly. They also offer same day service and discounts for regular service agreements.
Go - Forth is a family- owned pest control company that has earned the trust of local homeowners and businesses alike. Just dial (877) 274-1475 to set an appointment. Our friendly operators are standing by.