How to Get Rid of House Centipedes
House centipedes don't make for good roommates, so once you see them, getting rid of them is at the top of your to-do list. Did you spot the squirmy slither of a centipede darting across your living room floor? Don’t fret, the good news is centipedes don’t normally invade homes in swarms, like some of their insect counterparts.
Despite their horrific appearance, house centipedes aren’t particularly dangerous though they can bite, but rarely do. The best action, and probably first reaction, is to squish the house centipede on sight. If the thought is a bit repulsive, there are plenty of aerosol insecticides that will do the trick. Just be sure to read the label to make sure it will kill house centipedes.
If killing seems like a harsh reaction, simply scoop the centipede up in a jar and release it outdoors. The real prevention comes next. House centipedes are actually in some ways doing home owners a favor by eating other more pesky pests. They are natural predators of bedbugs, termites, silverfish, spiders, and roaches. Still, the idea of exchanging one bug for another is hardly reassuring.
Take action against house centipedes by ridding the area of any pests that might whet their appetite. When their daily meals are missing, they are more likely to head to another more appetizing location. Another appealing environment for centipedes is one that is dark and damp, so seal up the house’s cracks or openings and keep them dry. This could mean screening the basement drain windows or filling in cement cracks. If centipedes are a big problem, it may require removing foliage, such as thick ivy, from the outside of the house. Powdered insecticides or the safer and more natural, boric acid, can be sprinkled around the outside of the house to further protect the home. Inside, stick to the same rules and keep floors free of piled clothing and dark hideouts.
