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A Handy Centipede Prevention Guide For Homes And Yards

November 30, 2022 - Centipedes

Author - Tom Miche

centipede on a tire tread

Centipedes are a common sight due to the humidity levels in the region. That puts this creepy, venomous pest on the list of needs when it comes to pest control. Centipedes are venomous, but rarely attack people or pets unless they feel threatened. However, their venom can have unwanted health side effects on us and our loved ones. At the very least, we don’t want centipedes taking over our yards and homes. Miche Pest Control offers effective centipede control services to keep your home pest-free.

How To Identify A Centipede

Where do centipedes hide? Centipedes are often found outside on your property in damp, dark areas. Some common areas where you might see centipedes outside are:

  • Mulch

  • Soil

  • Under rocks

  • Along trash cans

  • In woodpiles

From time to time, they’ll make their way into your home and are often in search of dark damp areas such as crawl spaces, basements, and pipes. If you see centipedes in your bathroom or throughout your house, you may even have centipedes in your basement without knowing it.

Luckily, centipedes are mainly a creepy nuisance and are easy enough to avoid if you know what to look for. Here are the tell-tale signs that you are looking at a centipede:

  • Worm-like shape

  • Flattened, elongated body

  • Often reddish-brown, though color can vary from yellow to dark brown

  • Segmented body, each of which has one pair of legs

If you see a centipede in your basement or coming out of your bathtub drain, avoid them and call the experts to handle the issue.

Some Types Of Centipedes Are Considered Dangerous

While many centipedes are more of a gross, inconvenient pest, some are in fact dangerous. There are a number of biting centipedes that are venomous. Their front appendages contain the venom. Do what you can to avoid centipede bites, because symptoms from their venom can encompass the following:

  • Swelling

  • Mild pain

  • Headache

  • Chest pain

  • Nausea

Centipedes are carnivorous. They inject their prey with venom and consume their flesh. Because centipedes are tiny pests, we often don’t think of them as very harmful. While the garden-variety house centipede is not generally an aggressive pest, they are capable of biting when they feel threatened. Beyond the house centipede, there are different kinds of centipedes whose venom has more perilous side effects.

Four Eco-Friendly Centipede Prevention Tips For Your Home

Why are there centipedes in my house? It’s all too easy for centipedes to get into your home and find a nice, hospitable damp space. Just because you live in a humid climate, though, you do not have to deal with centipedes in your home. There are steps that you can take to prevent a centipede invasion. Here are four eco-friendly tips:

  1. Reduce humidity levels inside the home. Strategically placed dehumidifiers are a great way to accomplish this.

  2. Remove access points to the home. Centipedes do not require much of an opening to begin with. However simple areas to improve upon are obvious crevices and missing door sweeps.

  3. Set up a barrier. Use crushed stone between your home’s foundation and adjacent mulch beds and soil.

  4. Eliminate hiding spots. Remove organic debris, such as fallen branches, from your property.

These tricks are easy enough to enact and can make it more difficult for centipedes and other unwanted visitors to intrude on your home.

Professional Pest Control Is A Great Way To Keep The Centipedes Away

In order to completely remove unwanted centipedes from infesting your home, call the pest control professionals at Miche Pest Control. We focus on exterminating the types of pests that are commonly found in the greater metropolitan area, and as such have come across our fair share of centipedes. We have accumulated over 1,000 online reviews and have racked up an enviable 4.9-star rating! If you have observed centipedes in your home, don’t delay. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

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Customer Reviews

I switched from another pest control company due to high pressure sales/bad billing practices, and switched to Miche. They have been excellent. Excellent customer service, very effective pest treatments, competitive pricing. I highly recommend.

Tanya K. | 21 June 2021
★★★★★
two parents and two kids