How to Get Rid of Centipedes

Centipedes are surprisingly fast .

Centipedes, sometimes called hundred-leggers, are elongated insects known for their numerous legs. Centipedes are harmless to humans, but they have sharp fangs that they use to inject venom into small insects. Centipedes generally enter homes by crawling under doors or through small cracks. Centipedes aren't exactly the cuddliest of creatures, and thus most people want to remove them from their house and keep them from coming back.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Sticky traps
• Caulk or sealer
• Insecticide

1. Capture the centipede. Centipedes do not invade homes in great numbers like cockroaches. Thus, if you capture any centipede you see, chances are you have taken care of your centipede problem.

2. Keep your house dry. Centipedes require moist environments. If their environment is too dry, they will leave or dry up and die. Consider running a dehumidifier, especially in areas that are apt to become damp, such as basements, closets and attics.

3. Spread sticky traps around your house. When a centipede crawls onto the sticky trap, it will not be able to move. As a bonus, sticky traps will trap the soft-bodied insects that centipedes eat, such as spiders, worms and other small insects. With nothing to eat, centipedes will be more likely to leave your house.

4. Seal cracks and other entrance points with caulk or a surface-appropriate sealer. Centipedes enter your home through open doors, windows and small cracks. Seal your drains, foundation cracks and the space around your windows to help keep centipedes from entering your home.

5. Spread insecticide in areas where centipedes are likely to hide, such as wall cracks, basements and crawl spaces.

References

• University of Kentucky: Centipedes and Pseudoscorpions
• Get Rid of Things: How to Get Rid of Centipedes