House centipedes thrive in moist, dark environments. As a result, homes with moisture problems are more likely to host these pests. Homeowners may see them in basements, closets, or bathrooms, and in some cases, tubs or sinks. House centipedes will eat insects found in the same places.
Though rare, centipede bites are possible, but their venom is only mildly irritating. Since they eat insects, most people regard them as harmless, if not useful. They could, however, become a nuisance. Concerned residents can crush a house centipede, causing stains.
What Attracts House Centipedes To Your House
1. Harborage
In need of harborage, all bugs and wild animals can enter your yard and get up close to your foundation walls. This refuge will take many forms:
- A woodpile is an ideal hiding spot for a wide variety of creatures.
- When building supplies, equipment, appliances, and other items used for home decorating and construction are left in your yard, they may function as a harborage spot.
- Toys left outdoors by your children will act as a temporary shelter for a number of pests.
- Weeds, tall grass, and other overgrowth create an optimal environment for pests. This is the perfect place to welcome bugs and the centipedes who like eating them. To minimize insect populations, keep things tidy.
- Any temporary object, such as leaf piles and leaf litter, that sit on your lawn and block the sun’s rays can serve as a breeding ground for pests. Keep the leaves raked up as much as possible.
2. Food
When centipedes enter your yard, they are usually searching for food. If they find food near your exterior walls, they will be able to gain access to your house. Centipedes prefer animals with soft bodies, such as spiders, worms, insects, and arthropods.
The following conditions will raise the population of these animals in your yard:
- Ornamental plants and other vegetation. Many bugs prey on plants, and those centipedes will consume these plant-eating pests.
- In landscape design, rocks and other hard objects are used. Have you ever turned a rock over and uncovered a number of bugs underneath? Centipedes eat the majority of those species.
- Light attracts a wide variety of insects. When you leave your curtains open at night, the light that spills out will result in the increase of bug species in your yard. If you want fewer bugs in your yard, leave the curtains closed and exterior lights shut off.
- Accessible trash in an exterior receptacle. When there is open garbage in your yard, it draws not only flies but also spiders. And if there are more flies and spiders, there would be more centipedes.
3. Moisture
House centipedes are moisture pests. They don’t last long under drought conditions. If there is dampness near your house, the population of centipedes would be higher. Dampness can occur in a variety of ways:
- Leaks can cause moisture if you have a water spigot on the side of your house or an outside house. Make sure your spigot and hose aren’t leaking if you want fewer moisture bugs.
- When it rains, the soil around the house becomes wet. If you have a lot of shade around your house, moisture will accumulate and invite moisture pests in. You will need to trim bushes or slash tree branches to avoid this.
- When gutters fail, they can cause a slew of problems. Moisture pests are one of these problems. Perform an inspection to ensure that your gutters are in good working order and that they are collecting water and channeling it away from your foundation walls into your downspouts.
- Moisture problems can also be caused by clogged gutters. When leaves or other debris clog your gutters, water will spill over the side and down your walls, pooling at your foundation.
Signs of a Centipede Infestation
Centipedes normally leave no visible traces other than seeing the centipede itself. Because of their nocturnal nature and the speed at which they travel, they are barely seen by humans.
Centipedes can invade homes and houses, but they do not run about during the day. These are nocturnal creatures that move quickly and are agile. They hide in moist areas such as bathrooms, closets, basements, and other pest-infested areas.
1. Where Do Centipedes Hide?
During the winter, adult centipedes seek shelter in damp, dark, and secluded areas. During the summer or spring, they lay their eggs in dampened soil. When centipedes mature, they grow a full set of legs as well as extra segments. The majority of centipedes live for more than a year, and others can live for up to six years.
2. What Do Centipedes Eat?
Carnivorous centipedes feed on soft-bodied insects, spiders, worms, and other arthropods, including other centipedes.
Centipedes are unlikely to eat wood. In actuality, arthropods commonly known as wood-eating centipedes are millipedes. Although millipedes and centipedes appear similar, millipedes are herbivores and detritivores that feed on dead and rotting plant material, such as wood or cellulose.
3. Eyesight
Many centipedes have compound eyes of up to 200 optical units, while others do not. Centipedes all have low eyesight and detect their prey using touch and scent.
4. Lifespan
Centipedes will survive for up to six years if they are able to avoid predators and their environments are conducive to survival. Among arthropods, this lifespan is considered longer than many.
Do Centipedes Bite?
Centipedes have venom. Their venom helps them to kill prey and protect against predators and other natural enemies. Although the bite of a centipede can be painful, the venom does not normally endanger humans.
When you reduce the number of centipedes in your yard, particularly near your foundation walls, you reduce the probability that they will invade your house. For added protection, conduct a thorough inspection of the exterior and seal any possible entry points you find. Check the screens on your doors and windows as well. Also, keep in mind that it just takes a little gap for a centipede to get in.