Does the house centipede bite? What attracts centipedes to your house? What do they eat? Are centipedes dangerous to humans and pets? "How do you get rid of them? These are all great questions about one of the most "freak-out" pests we encounter. Read on to find out more about this common house hold pest.
Identification: House Centipede
- Scientific Name: Scutigera coleoptrata
- Size: 1 to 1.5 inches in length
- Color: Brown, yellow & black
- Common names: Hundred-leggers, thousand-leggers
- Legs: 15 pairs of legs (fast moving)
Centipede Overview
Conversely known as one of the most sinister pests inside a home. The house centipede is commonly seen running across a basement floor, out of a drain or bathtub.
What attracts the house centipede? For the most part, centipedes are in search of a cool, damp area to reap havoc on other insects. A basement or crawl space with humidity levels above 55% will attract them. The high humidity coupled with the prescence of other insects (dinner) will create a nice breeding ground for centipedes.
Generally, considered by many to be the "king of the insect-jungle" within a structure. This predator actually does "pest control" for you. They eat spiders, moths, roaches and any "creepy crawling insect" which may lurk within the structure. For more information about this pest check out this article https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=House-Centipede
Are House Centipedes Dangerous to Humans?
Centipedes are not a public health concern. They do not spread disease's or contaminate food within our home. This predator is actually beneficial by controlling insects in our home.
"So they are not dangerous to humans?" For the most part, the house centipede is instinctually afraid of humans. That being said, this pest can bite humans out of self defense. However, they are not actively seeking to bite us. There is no plan to for them to attack us while we sleep at night. Most bites occur, when someone accidentally handles them.
When a house centipede bite's a human, they inject venom into the victim. The venom is suppose to paralyze the prey. However, humans are too large to be paralyzed by their "magic elixir". The sting will usually be painful and is compared to a "wasp sting". Bites are not considered to be life-threatening or fatal.
In short, the house centipede is actually a beneficial pest. The positives, out weigh the negatives... However, no one wants their family to be at risk of a "rare" or "accidental bite."
How Do You Get Rid Of House Centipede's?
First, inspect and seal every nook and cranny surrounding the structure. Next, remove the humidity attraction in the basement or crawlspace. Install a dehumidifier in areas which have high moisture. Ensure the dehumidifier is able to cover the square footage of the affected area. In severe infestations, a residual pesticide can be applied to accelerate their demise.
For assistance with "house centipede's" give us a call to day
A.N.T. Pest Control is a licensed, certified and insured company. We serve New Lenox, Manhattan, Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, Tinley Park, Orland Park and the surrounding suburbs.
