Centipedes

What do centipedes look like?

Part of the family Chilopoda, centipedes are arthropods that have a flattened, elongated body. On each of their body segments, centipedes have one pair of legs.

The house centipede is one of the most common species to find their way into our South Carolina homes. They have a brownish-yellow body with three longitudinal, dark stripes of color. Their legs alternate with light and dark colors giving them a striped appearance.

Centipedes have long antennae covered in dense hair. Centipedes have poor vision, and their sensitive antennae helps them locate prey. Their first pairs of limbs end in sharp claws and contain venom glands that they use to defend themselves and capture their prey.

Are centipedes dangerous?

Centipedes are capable of delivering painful bites to people if they feel threatened. However, centipedes are not aggressive, and bites are rare with no long-lasting effects. Centipedes are nuisance pests that occasionally invade our homes, but they cause no real harm to people or property.

Where are centipedes found?

Centipedes are moisture seeking pests and live outside in dark, damp areas like under rotting logs, under woodpiles, under rocks, and under landscaping ties or trash cans. They are nocturnal, hiding during the day and emerging at night to forage for food. Typically, they eat other nuisance insects, spiders, and other arthropods.

If weather conditions outside become unsuitable for centipedes, they will move inside through cracks in the foundation and other small openings they find. Inside, they choose damp, dark places to live that mimic their outdoor environment such as basements, closets, laundry rooms, crawl spaces and other high humidity areas.

How do you eliminate problems with centipedes?

The best option to eliminate problems with centipedes is to contact a pest control professional, like the reliable South Carolina exterminators at The Original Bugman Elimination, Inc. A professional can provide accurate identification and inspection services. They can also offer treatment solutions that get to the root of your centipede infestation, completely eliminating the centipedes that are causing problems in your home or on your property and preventing them from returning in the future.

At The Original Bugman Pest Elimination, Inc., we offer reliable and highly-effective centipede control services in Lexington, Columbia and throughout the Midlands of South Carolina. Our Quarterly Home Protection Plan works to solve problems you may be experiencing with centipedes and other common house-invading pests. To learn more about our effective centipede control services or to get started with our services today, reach out to us to schedule an appointment!

How do you prevent centipedes?

The centipede is a common household invader. It may be necessary to put a home pest control program into place in order to protect your property and home from centipedes and other common pests. The following tips can help prevent problems with centipedes in and around your South Carolina home:

• Inspect your home's foundation, caulking any openings found.
• Place door sweeps on all exterior doors.
• Cut back grass and other vegetation from your home’s foundation and exterior walls.
• Place a crushed rock or stone barrier between any soil or mulch and your home’s foundation.
• Get rid of excess piles of organic debris from your yard.
• Use dehumidifiers to keep basements dry.