Posts Tagged ‘home’
House centipedes, aka Scutigera Coleoptrata, are pests that are not easily eliminated. These foul creatures are not insects. They have about fifteen legs, eyes everywhere and can run about as fast as the average cockroach. However, unlike cockroaches, they appear even in homes that are kept clean. House centipedes do not spread diseases like rats and roaches do, but have in some instances stung humans.
Unfortunately, these creatures are not easy to kill. While squashing one with a shoe is effective, it leaves an ugly brown stain on the surface where the creature was killed. Bug spray is not very effective, unless one purchase a spray that is specifically labeled as being able to exterminate centipedes. The most common method of getting rid of centipedes is setting up sticky traps. These traps should be placed in humid areas of the house, as centipedes love humidity. One will need to replace the traps as needed.
Centipedes feed on smaller insects, so hiring a pest control company to fumigate the house can be a very good idea. This may not destroy all the centipedes but it will destroy their food and the centipedes will likely move out in search of a more suitable food source. As centipedes thrive in humidity, setting up a dehumidifier in the room will discourage these creatures from entering.
If there are vines or other thick plants growing right outside the house, then one may want to cut these back. Thick foliage is a great spot for centipedes and other pests and will encourage pest infestation in the house. Putting powdered insecticides outside the house can also be a good idea. Those who have small children or an outdoor pet may want to use Boric Acid instead, as it is a more natural alternative to commercial insecticides.
It is also very important to make sure there are no holes or cracks in the house structure. Check the basement, attic and walls for any small cracks or holes that could be letting the centipedes get into the house, and then seal the walls so that pests cannot enter. This is very important, as spiders, termites, ants and cockroaches can also get into the house if there are any small cracks or holes in the structure.
Fortunately, house centipedes are not quite as bad as other pests such as rats and termites. In fact, a house centipede will eat these and other pests and so may act as a sort of natural pest control. On the other hand, most homeowners would not want centipedes around the house or apartment, even if they do eat other pests. While centipedes are not easy to kill, they can be eliminated. Make sure there are no other pests in the home for the centipedes to feed on, purchase insecticide that also kills centipedes, keep the house dry and cover holes or cracks in the walls that could be letting centipedes in. To find out more about how to get rid of house centipedes, one can also check out the helpful, detailed information on this site.
