Don't Kill Another Centipede Before Reading This

Why You May Want to Think Twice About Killing House Centipedes

With their many legs and quick movements, most of us are creeped out by the sight of a house centipede. After all, nobody wants to see a pest scurrying across their kitchen floor. And because centipedes don’t hibernate during the winter, they need to seek out a warm shelter to spend the cold months– which can sometimes mean your home! But read on if you’re interested in learning about how these little guys can actually benefit you!

To Kill or Not to Kill: House Centipedes

What many people don’t know is that house centipedes can actually protect your home from other unwanted pests. They kill and eat roaches, flies, moths, silverfish, and termites. They also don’t create any sort of webs or nests, and don’t carry any fatal diseases. They are technically venomous but they rarely bite, and the venom isn’t generally dangerous to humans.  So next time you see a centipede in your house, try resisting the urge to squash it with a shoe!

How to Get Rid of Centipedes in the House

Of course, most of us don’t want any pests in the house. Your best bet for removing centipedes is to remove their food sources. In the warmer months, start with the exterior of your home.  Keep vegetation and stored items like firewood, home project materials and toy storage away to a minimum. Centipedes are hunters and these stored items harbor insect populations and therefore will attract centipedes. If centipedes don’t have any prey to “snack on” around your home, they will be less likely to enter your home.

To help keep the other pests out, try:

• Making sure there isn’t excess moisture in the walls or floors by using a dehumidifier or bathroom fan. Be sure to repair leaky plumbing and pipes.
• Seal cracks and tears in windows, screens, doors, siding and fascia so pests don’t have a means of entering and laying eggs.
• Clear the house of debris and other messes that could harbor pests.

Once you’ve removed other pests from your home, centipedes will likely follow suit. As always, please reach out to us with any and all pest-related concerns. We’re always here to help!