There is a big difference between a scary-looking pest and a scary pest. Most pests are scary looking with their hard exteriors, multiple legs, and oddly shaped eyes. Only a select few are actually scary when you get to know them. The kissing bug, for instance, has a cute name but is extremely deadly and responsible for over 12000 deaths a year. Today we will be talking about one scariest looking pests in America, the centipede, and determining how scary they actually are. Here is everything you ought to know.
Centipedes In America
There are many species of centipede that live around the world, but only a few that consider Lincoln their home. Around our area, there are Tiger centipedes, soil centipedes, stone centipedes, and house centipedes. Because house centipedes are the most common home invaders, we will be focusing on this pest today.
When you think of the word centipede, an image of a house centipede probably comes to mind. These multi-legged, yellowish-brown, home invaders grow to be as long as 1 ½ inch long. House centipedes are born with only four pairs of legs. An adult has 15 pairs of legs. To identify a female from a male, take a look at her last two legs, which are much longer than the rest. All in all, house centipedes are fairly easy to identify as there is no pest like them.
Are House Centipedes Dangerous?
House centipedes are both carnivorous and venomous. Around homes, these pests will hunt for insects, spiders, and other small living organisms. The good news is that neither their bite nor their venom is strong enough to cause you harm. As long as you don’t pick one up, or accidentally lay a part of your body on one without killing it, you will never be bitten by one of these home invaders. A general rule with centipedes is that the larger they are, the more painful their bite is. Seeing that house centipedes are on the smaller side of the spectrum, the pain from their bite is minimal.
What Attracts Centipedes To Homes
Centipedes are not unlike most other living creatures. They need food, water, and shelter to survive. More often than not, residential homes provide centipedes with all three of their most basic needs. The trick to preventing house centipedes is to limit their access to food, water, and shelter. Here are some practical ways we recommend you do this around your Lincoln home.
- Reduce clutter around your property.
- Use a caulking gun to fill in cracks, holes, and gaps in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Fix window/door screens that are damaged.
- Inspect weather-stripping, and door sweeps to make sure they are in good condition.
- Make sure your gutters are in good working order.
- Repair leaky piping and fixtures in and around your home.
- Use a dehumidifier indoors around humid areas.
- Keep your home clean and free of clutter.
- Tidy up and organize storage areas.
A Better Way To Handle Centipedes
At the end of the day, you shouldn’t have to deal with centipedes on your own. The process is time-consuming and often difficult to do right. If you are looking for a simple and cost-effective way to remove and keep centipedes out of your home, we offer advanced solutions at Pro Active Pest Control. With our 100% pest-free guarantee, you won’t have to worry about scary-looking centipedes or the pests they invade to hunt causing trouble around your home ever again.
Call or reach out to us through our website today for more details on our services or to schedule an inspection for your Lincoln home.