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You probably won’t find one in your house, but you might unearth one digging in the garden. About two inches long, it’s light brown with dark brown diamond shapes along its back. Seeing the occasional house centipede means they’re probably doing their job. You’ll often see them patrolling around and eating other bugs at night. However, if you see multiple a day, that might be cause for concern. They do not instantly change direction when light is suddenly shone at them, but will retreat to a darker hiding spot.
Interaction with humans
If you see a centipede in your house, your first reaction might be to kill it. But even if you manage to catch it — which is difficult, because centipedes are really fast — you should think twice. In general, soil centipedes belong to a huge family (Geophilomorpha) with too many species to mention.
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Food
There are 3 main things to keep in mind when trying to figure out if your home is the perfect place for centipedes to thrive.
Preventing Centipedes in Your Home
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These carnivorous bugs eat other bugs, but mostly they just hide in dark crevices until they decide to scurry out and startle you. They like damp dark places, and tend to be more active at night, though if you disturb one of their hiding or resting places, you may see them scuttling about during the day. You may find them under your sink or in the bathtub occasionally, as those spots combine the damp and dark conditions they love so much. They tend to be fairly dormant in the winter (they prefer temperate climates) and begin to be more active in spring. Once temperatures begin to get colder in autumn they may want to find an indoor hiding place.
Females will lay 15–60 eggs at a time, usually in the soil or rotten wood, but other than for the purposes of reproducing, centipedes don’t form nests that they return to each day. Yes, house centipedes are capable climbers and (thanks to their long legs and high agility) can move across walls and even ceilings. Their numerous pairs of legs and rapid movement make them highly adaptable to different surfaces.
What Do Centipedes Eat?
The diamondback soil centipede (Geophilus vittatus) is a representative. As the name suggests, this centipede (Scolopocryptops sexspinosus) features a uniformly red or orange body, with lighter orange legs. Long, it can be found across the East Coast from southern Canada to Carolina, as well as the Gulf Coast. It has also been spotted in parts of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. This high sensitivity means you probably won’t see them out and about much during the day, and it’s also why they cause such a fright at night.
The house centipede should be considered a beneficial organism as it feeds on spiders, insects and other small arthropods. Centipedes are most active at night because they shy away from light and are nocturnal hunters. Their presence often points to further pest problems, as they feed on ants, spiders, and crickets. While centipedes are not dangerous, their fast movements and alarming appearance make many people uneasy. You’ll find this aptly-named centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) all over North America, as well as Hawaii. Although a large one can look fearsome with its fifteen pairs of legs, it’s basically harmless, though it can inflict a painful nip if handled.
Kinds of Centipedes in California
Most centipedes and millipedes are not poisonous and do not cause damage to homes. In fact infestations of these pests are usually due to the presence of other insects that they like to feed on. Both of these pests also like dark moist areas – outside they can be found in moist areas in the yard – the underside of stones, leaves and barks of trees. When inside your home the areas centipedes and millipedes are most likely to hide are bathrooms, kitchens, garages and basements. As carnivores, centipedes are predators, and they may actually serve a beneficial purpose in or around your home in terms of pest control. For example, house centipedes may eat roaches, flies, silverfish, and even termites.
Two of the house centipede’s legs, located right near the head and near the mouth, have been modified to carry venom. Technically, this means that house centipede sting their prey rather than bite, but why quibble? Their venom is potent for smaller insects such as silverfish and termites.
So, for every centipede you see, there could be 100 more lurking elsewhere. Fortunately, because they’re nocturnal, you’ll rarely see them. There’s nothing more terrifying than watching a house centipede shoot across your floor and under your couch. It’s safe to say that most people are positively terrified from those creepy crawling house guests. 3 feet-per-second, which explains why catching one of these bugs is nearly impossible. The typical response to a house centipede probably involves a shoe to squash the bugger before it crawls under another piece of furniture.
Centipedes have a uniquely structured first pair of legs, which are used as claws to grasp, penetrate, and inject venom into their prey. Generally, centipede bites appear to have two puncture wounds and look similar to a spider bite. On the other hand, the giant desert centipede (Scolopendra heros) found in the Southwest, is a very large centipede that can reach 8 – 10 inches in length. They are somewhat aggressive and will readily bite a perceived threat. The most common centipede found in the eastern part of the United States is the house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata), which is the only species of centipede known to reproduce in homes. House centipedes perform a valuable service by eating cockroaches, moths and termites.
They aren’t aggressive towards humans, choosing flight over fight. Since their diets consist of only insects, arachnids, and other arthropods, it’s safe to say they aren’t going to go after you or have any desire to hurt a person. House centipedes are found all across North America and can live their whole lives within a singular structure.
They also adapted their feeding pattern to the type of hazard the prey might pose to them. For wasps, they retreat after applying the venom to give it time to take effect.[8] When the centipede is in danger of becoming prey itself, it can detach any legs that have become trapped. House centipedes have been observed to groom their legs by curling around and grooming them with their forcipules. Its body is yellowish-grey and has three dark dorsal stripes running down its length; the legs also have dark stripes.
If you did sustain a bite, it would feel like a mild bee sting. Centipedes Facts & InformationProtect your home or business from centipedes by learning techniques for identification and control. Centipedes are elongated, with flat, segmented bodies that contain a pair of legs per segment.
But despite their somewhat frightening appearance, centipedes are—for the most part—harmless, even somewhat helpful. A dehumidifier can help reduce moisture, which is the main attraction for centipedes in your home. Close up any cracks and crevices in the foundation or exterior of your home to prevent centipedes (and other pests) from entering. Also, keep an eye on any other insects that you might find in your home. Centipedes eat insects, so if you get rid of their food source, you have a good chance of stopping centipedes in their (many) tracks.
They were first recorded in Pennsylvania in 1849 and are now widespread throughout the country and the world. Have you ever seen a many-legged creature scurrying so fast across the ground that you take a second look to make sure you actually saw it? If you have already seen centipedes near or around the bed, make sure that you shake out all of your bedding before going to sleep. Pest Control Professionals will have the most experience with exterminating Centipedes and will be able to handle a large scale project that may include other bugs. Make sure that you also fix any leaks as this can bring moisture to an area that may be close to a crack. If inside, you can use vents, fans, or a dehumidifier to get rid of unwanted moisture in rooms.
