Are you experiencing insects with many legs scurrying around your home? If so, you might have centipedes in your house. But what does this mean? Are they dangerous, and what’s the best way to get rid of them?
Here we have all the answers to your questions about these strange creatures, called centipedes, and who can help you with these leggy pests!
How To Identify Centipedes
Sometimes centipedes are misidentified as other pests, mainly millipedes. While these critters both have many legs and are occasional invaders, that’s where the similarities end.
Here are the differences between centipedes and millipedes to help you identify centipedes:
- Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment, and millipedes have two pairs.
- Centipedes have long, flat bodies, and millipedes have long cylinder worm-like bodies.
- Centipedes are quick and active carnivores, and millipedes are slow-moving herbivores.
- Centipedes have long antennae, and millipedes have short antennae.
While different kinds of centipedes range drastically in size, the ones you will likely come across in your home will be a dark brown or yellowish-gray color. They usually have 15 pairs of legs, meaning 30 legs total.
If you are unsure what type of pest you are confronting, it is always best to get expert assistance for identification and removal.
Are Centipedes Venomous?
For the most part, we consider centipedes as nuisance pests; however, they can bite and cause a few minor problems when they infest homes.
Centipedes have venom, which they use for catching prey, but they are not venomous to people. While they rarely bite people, they can easily feel threatened if touched or picked up. When this happens, centipedes can cause a painful bite. The best way to avoid centipede bites and skin irritation is by not picking up or touching this pest with bare hands.
What Attracts Centipedes To Homes
Centipedes are occasional invaders because they infest homes when conditions outside aren’t favorable. Mainly, centipedes are attracted to homes with a lot of moisture when the weather is too dry in their natural habitats. Conversely, they may also seek shelter if there has been too much rain or if the places they like to hide experience flooding.
Additionally, centipedes are predators, so although they don’t thrive indoors, they might wander inside as they look for prey. Centipedes are beneficial insects around your property as they help keep other pest populations down, including crop and plant damaging pests. So it’s not uncommon to find centipedes in plants around your house if they have made their way inside.
Speaking of plants, you can also accidentally carry centipedes on potted plans or packages, so check these items for any hitchhikers before bringing them inside.
How To Get Rid Of Centipedes Around Your Property
If you are dealing with centipedes around your home, you should contact Innovative Pest Solutions for reliable residential pest control services.
We offer four different pest control plans depending on your home’s specific needs and preferences. Each of these plans occurs on a tri-annual basis to keep your home a pest-free environment year-round.
If you’re unsure what plan is best for your home, that’s not a problem! We always begin with an inspection to locate signs of pest activity you might be experiencing. During our inspection, we also identify conducive conditions that might lead to future pest pressures so that you can take the necessary preventative measures.
Keep your home free of centipedes by contacting us at Innovative Pest Solutions, and get started with a pest control plan that works best for you!
