Centipedes

What are centipedes?

Centipedes are those leggy, worm-like pests that find their way into our Washington homes and outbuildings on a regular basis. The centipede’s less-than-friendly appearance causes most to be wary of these pests.

Centipedes have an elongated, segmented, flattened body with one pair of legs extending from each body segment. Most centipedes grow to between 1 and 1 ½ inches in length, but some, depending on the species are able to grow much larger.

Other physical features of a centipede include the body having a yellowish-gray or brown color, a pair of long antennae, and the first pair of legs ending in sharp claws. They use their specialized claws to capture and inject venom into prey.

Why do I have a centipede problem?

Centipedes are a type of predator. They hunt and feed on other living things, like insects. If your yard or home is a place where large amounts of insects live, you will likely have problems with centipedes and other predatory pests.

Centipedes live inside and outside of our homes in areas that meet their high moisture needs. These pests live in or under damp soil, mulch, woodpiles, rocks, landscaping ties, and other landscaping materials. They are also found under trash cans, recycling bins, and plant pots.

The centipedes that live outside in close proximity to the exterior of our homes often find their way inside through cracks in the foundation or gaps under doors. Hot, dry weather and insect activity causes centipedes to move into homes and other structures.

Are centipedes dangerous?

Centipedes move into our homes uninvited, are difficult to prevent, and hard to get rid of, but they are not a pest that is considered dangerous. Centipedes are not aggressive and won’t seek out people to bite, in fact, they spend most of their time hiding in quiet, secluded places away from people.

It is wise not to attempt making contact or picking up centipedes as they are capable of delivering painful, venom-filled bites if they feel threatened. Though the good news is that their venom isn’t powerful enough to cause people serious health problems.

Do centipedes bite?

Centipedes are capable of biting people, though the bites are rare and usually only occur if they are being directly handled or feel threatened. A bite from a centipede is painful and is often compared to the pain of a bee sting. Centipedes are a frustrating pest to deal with as they are difficult to keep out of our homes and outbuildings. The best solution to a current problem with centipedes is to partner with Prosite. After eliminating the centipedes we will then establish the necessary services needed to stop their future return. To learn more about our centipede control solutions and how we can work together to eliminate centipedes and other pests from your residential or commercial property, reach out to Prosite today.

How do I prevent centipede problems?

In addition to our professional pest control treatments for centipedes at Prosite, we recommend implementing these centipede prevention tips:

• Get rid of debris like fallen trees, piles of leaves, and brush piles from your property
• Keep the grass on your property cut short
• Keep the perimeter of your home as dry as possible
• Cut back overgrown landscaping and  install gutters
• Leave a barrier between soil or mulch in the foundation
• Check the bottom of plant pots for centipedes before bringing them inside
• Store trash cans and recycling bins up off of the ground and away from the outside of your home
• Repair leaky pipes and fixtures
• Use dehumidifiers to reduce excess moisture inside your home
• Repair leaky air-conditioners
• Fix cracks in the foundation
• Place door sweeps on exterior doors and vent covers on vents leading into your home

The best prevention key for centipede control in Ellensburg and Central Washington is to establish a year-round pest control plan with the professionals at Prosite. Call us today!