Centipede infestations are one of the most frustrating pests that homeowners can face. These pests are not only difficult to control, but they can also cause serious health problems for those who are allergic to their bites.
If you’re dealing with a centipede infestation, there are a few home remedies you can try to keep them away and deter them from entering, or staying, in your home.
- One is to mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and use it to spray the centipedes directly.
The vinegar and water mixture does not kill centipedes, but it does deter them from returning to an area. The vinegar emits a strong scent that repels centipedes. Additionally, the vinegar-water mixture creates a slippery surface that makes it difficult for centipedes to move around. As a result, the centipedes will avoid an area that has been sprayed with this mixture.
- You can also try sprinkling diatomaceous earth around your home, which will kill the centipedes when they come into contact with it.
Diatomaceous earth is a naturally-occurring, sedimentary rock that is composed of the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of algae. It is a very fine powder that has a variety of uses, including as an abrasive, filtration aid, and absorbent. Additionally, diatomaceous earth can be used as an insecticide, as it kills insects by puncturing their exoskeletons.
- Finally, you can try setting out traps baited with food or honey to lure the centipedes in and then capture them.
Baiting traps with food or honey will help to attract the centipedes into the traps so that they can be caught and removed from your home. There are a few different types of food that you can use to bait centipede traps. Some of the most effective foods include honey, crickets, and worms. These foods are known to be very attractive to centipedes, and they will be drawn into the traps in order to get to them.
Once the centipedes are inside the traps, they can be caught and removed from your home. It is important to check centipede traps on a regular basis in order to ensure that they are effective. It is also necessary to empty the traps once they have been filled with centipedes. This will help to prevent the centipedes from escaping and infesting your home again, or attracting more to the area.
Whichever method you choose, be sure to act quickly and persistently to get rid of the problem.
Natural preventative methods to deter a centipede infestation
There are a few natural preventative measures you can take to make sure centipedes don’t enter your home.
- You can start by making sure that there is no food for them to eat. This means sealing up any cracks or crevices where they might be able to get into your home.
- Another way to prevent centipedes from getting into your home is to make sure that there are no cracks or holes in your foundation or exterior walls. You can also seal any gaps around doors and windows with weather-stripping or caulk.
- Finally, you can try to keep your home as clean as possible so that they have no reason to stay. It’s important to note that centipedes like to hide in dark, moist places, so be sure to clean those types of areas around your home extra well and always be alert to a potential infestation.
The signs of house centipede infestation
There are some tell-tale signs that your house has been infested with centipedes.
- The first and foremost way to spot a centipede infestation is by seeing one in your home.
Centipedes are generally easy to spot due to their size and coloring. They are typically brown or reddish-brown, and range in size from 1 to 6 inches long. This makes them larger than most other insects and pests, such as ants, cockroaches, and mosquitoes. As a result, they are often seen as nuisance pests that can be difficult to control. Where there is one centipede, more are soon to follow.
- Also, another tell-tale sign of an infestation is the sight of their egg sacks.
Centipede egg sacks are small, elongated sacs that contain the eggs of centipedes. They are typically pale in color and may have a slightly translucent appearance. The size of the egg sack will vary depending on the species of centipede, but they are generally quite small – often no larger than a few millimeters in length.
The sacks are attached to the underside of leaves or other objects near the ground, and the centipede will guard them until the eggs hatch. When the eggs hatch, the young centipedes will emerge and immediately begin to hunt for food.
- Centipedes are predators and will often be found near sources of food, such as in kitchens and bathrooms.
One of the first places you will spot a centipede is in your kitchen or bathroom. One of the main reasons that centipedes are commonly found in kitchens or bathrooms is because these areas are usually more humid than other parts of the house. This increased moisture level creates a more favorable environment for centipedes, which generally prefer damp conditions.
In addition, kitchen and bathroom areas often provide ample opportunities for centipedes to find food, as these rooms often contain small insects or other arthropods that centipedes can prey upon.
How do centipedes get into your house?
One of the most common ways centipedes get into your house is through cracks and crevices in the foundation or exterior walls. Centipedes can also come inside through windows, doors, and vents. Once they are inside, they will often hide in dark, damp places such as basements, closets, and crawl spaces.
How to keep centipedes out of your bed
If you have centipedes in your home, there is a good chance they will end up in your bed at some point. To prevent this from happening, you should keep your bedroom clean and free of clutter. Vacuum your bedroom regularly, and make sure to get rid of any potential hiding places for centipedes. You should also inspect your bed regularly for signs of centipedes. If you find any, be sure to remove them immediately.
Centipedes are nocturnal creatures, so they are more likely to be active at night when you are trying to sleep. If you wake up to find one of these pests crawling on your bed, it is a good indication that you have a full-blown infestation. Other signs of a centipede infestation include the presence of these pests in your bathroom, kitchen, or other areas of your home where they can find food and water.
Does killing a centipede attract more?
Killing a centipede has been known to attract more centipedes to your home. When centipedes are killed, their bodies release a pheromone that can be sensed by other centipedes. This pheromone is used to communicate with other members of their species and can be used to signal danger. As a result, killing a centipede can actually make your problem worse if the dead centipede carcass is not disposed of properly and removed from your home as soon as possible.
Picture source and credit: “House Centipede” by gregmote is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
