CENTIPEDES

What Are the Signs of Centipedes?

Centipedes don’t really leave any evidence that they are inside your home or other structure. They don’t even nest in a regular place – instead, they find a new hiding place each day.

You’re most likely to come upon a centipede by accident. You’ll spot it resting on a wall, darting out from underneath a box you’re moving or trapped in a sink basin or tub.

How Can I Control a Centipede Infestation?

We’ve got good news for you. Centipedes are generally solitary creatures and that means true infestations are rare. The general thought is that if you can spray or squash any centipede you see, you’ll make a major dent in the centipede population in your home.

Still, there are several options available to keep your home centipede-free:

• Eliminate Centipede Food Sources: Centipedes eat a strict diet of bugs and spiders, so you can rid yourself of centipedes by making your home bug-free. One effective method is to create an insect-free perimeter around your home.
• Reduce Clutter: Centipedes thrive in areas that provide them plenty of hiding places. If you can limit such opportunities in your basement or crawlspace, the centipedes won’t stay. Outside, move leaf litter, grass clippings, firewood and building materials away from the structure.
• Run a dehumidifier and exhaust fans: Centipedes need a high-humidity environment to survive. Run an exhaust fan in any room that traps moisture, including kitchens and bathrooms. If there’s no exhaust fan available, then bring in a dehumidifier.
• Seal Off Entryways: Sometimes outdoor centipedes will come inside, and sometimes centipedes residing in your walls or crawlspaces will make it into your living area. Using caulk or expanding foam, close off any entryway that would allow centipedes and other bugs to gain access to your home. Just be aware that centipedes can fit through extremely small holes, so you will have to be very diligent.
• Trap Centipedes: Set out sticky traps for centipedes, which will catch them as they hunt each night. These pesticide-free traps are easy to use – just unfold them, peel off the release paper and set out in areas where you know centipedes and other bugs are roaming.

How Can I Get Rid of Centipedes?

If you discover a centipede problem in your home or business, you can deal with them quickly with the help of several TERRO^® products.

• TERRO^® Ant Dust - Outside the structure, thoroughly apply and evenly spread the dust around the foundation of a structure where pests are active.
• TERRO^® Spider and Ant Killer - If you spot a centipede inside or outside your home, spray it this aerosol.
• TERRO^® Perimeter Ant Bait Plus  - Use inside and out for long-lasting protection against many types of invading bugs, including centipedes.

Are There Different Kinds of Centipedes?

There are approximately 3,100 species of centipedes in the world, and many of them live in North America.

• Cryptoid Centipede (Theatops californiensis) - This light brown centipede is often found in leaf litter and under rocks. It can grow up to 2 ½ inches long.
• Florida Blue Centipede (Hemiscolopendra marginata) - These aggressive centipedes are found in the southern U.S., where they hide under moisture-retaining logs, roots and rocks. They may enter a home after a heavy rain.
• House Centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) - This species is the most common centipede in North America and can grow to 1 ½ inches long. Like all centipedes, it is a voracious bug hunter.