Control Of House Centipedes

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Centipedes problems and control tips

Centipedes bring fear into people's lives just by thinking about them and they make a other people to cringe.They are not insects and they are closely related to lobsters and shrimps Also known as 'hundred leggers', centipedes can move extremely fast. They have a long segmented body and are covered in a tough and flexible exoskeleton. On each segment of the centipede's body, there is a pair of legs and also there is a pair of antennae's on their head. At the centipedes head, there is one pair of legs to work as fangs that bite into the prey and deliver venom.

The only centipede that can reproduce and stay at home is house centipede. If there is a moisture problem in the house, this will be a haven for the centipede. When they have entered the house they can be found anywhere with a high humidity and they come out when it's dark as they are looking for prey which includes insects and spiders.

Are Centipedes Actually Considered Beneficial to Households?

People may see house centipedes as a nuisance and worry when they spot one. It is true that the house centipede can be beneficial to households. They feed on small insects, insect larvae and spiders. This means they could help in ridding you from indoor pests.

How do Centipedes Differ from Millipedes?

The centipede insect occasionally poses a threat to humans as they can bite, and millipedes occasionally damage seedling plants by feeding on stems and leaves.

The difference between the two is that millipedes have round body segments and two pairs of appendages instead of one on each segment. The head is rounded with short antennae and does not contain poison jaws.

Millipedes do not reproduce indoors whereas centipedes do. Millipedes are mainly vegetarians and they feed on vegetation including potato crops. Centipedes on the other hand are carnivores and they feed other insects.

How to Control Centipedes?

Outdoor Control

If you find that centipedes are coming into the house in great numbers it is more than likely that there are a lot more outside. Removing materials from outside is the first call in centipede prevention, as this will remove the pest's shelter. This can include:-

Rocks
Boards
Any Debris around the garden

Centipedes thrive on moist, humid areas and so the first step in preventing them is to make your home as dry as possible. There are actually forms of grass that can help to repel insects and one of those is called 'centipede grass'. It has no relevance to centipede insect but it can repel them. Centipede grass is weed-free so you shouldn't use centipede weed control.

As they thrive on moist areas, rotting logs and grass clippings can be an ideal nesting ground for these creatures. so everything should be cleared away. You should mow the lawn frequently as this makes the garden drier and less appealing to the centipede.

Another thing to look out for is cracks around windows and doors. If you do see any you should fill them as soon as possible. This will not only stops the centipede getting in but it will also stop other bugs from entering the home.

Insecticides can also be used if the problem is severe but it is recommended that you leave them as a last resort because of the potential damage they can cause. If you do use an insecticide you should spray it around the house especially around entry points such as windows and doors. Insecticides do not always work the first time so you should expect to use two to three treatments before you eliminate the problem.

Indoor Control

Indoor centipede control is the next step in controlling the creatures.

If there wasn't any food for the centipede to eat in your house, it wouldn't keep coming back. This means that the first step in stopping centipedes in their tracks is to cut down their food supply. You can do this by buying 'sticky traps' which trap other insects. Pest control companies sell these and they have been proven to be highly effective.

You should check for any cracks in walls or around entry points. Make sure if there are any you cover them up and fill them as soon as possible. Check for cracks and gaps in floorboards, basements and under appliances.

Using dehumidifiers will also help as they will take all the moisture out of the room. This can be particularly useful in moist rooms such as a toilet/bathroom or basement.

If you do follow the tips above, you should have a pest free zone in no time.

Precautions before Using Centipede Control Products

Before using any pest control product you need to make sure that you are following the instructions carefully. This is especially true in things like insecticides.

Insecticides can be really dangerous if used improperly. They can be harmful to you, pets and environment. Even low toxic ones can produce problems for environment and pets. Using them outside can cause a drift where the mist coming from the spray, flies away from the infected area and it could go to neighbor's gardens or near local wildlife spots. This can prove harmful to them and neighbor's pets could even be affected.

If you are worried about using insecticides but you feel it is the only option, you could pay a professional pest controller to come and do it for you. This would cut down the risk but again there could still be a drift so it is always better to use insecticides as a last resort.

IWhile placing 'sticky traps', you should remember to pick them up every morning. You should also keep pets away from them as they can potentially be toxic..

If you spot a centipede insect in your home do not worry. As mentioned earlier they can be beneficial and as long as there aren't many of them, they shouldn't be a problem. However if you feel the need to use house centipede control, try and use insecticides as a last resort and always read the label of any product before you use it.

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