There are a lot of household pests that many of us are familiar with here in New York City. There’s spiders. There’s rats (a lot of them!). There’s ants. There’s cockroaches.
Most of us are familiar with these pests. They come up regularly in conversation, we see them in media, and so much more. But there’s another very common pest here that is terrifying for those that have never seen one before, and they’re actually very common in the area.
They are House Centipedes.
If you’ve seen one before, you’ll always remember them. House centipedes, for pests, are massive. They are fast moving bugs with huge bodies and multiple long legs. They look like multiple spiders glued together, and they move super quick – running on the walls and floor, looking for their next meal.
House centipedes are adapted to live indoors. They love cool, damp areas. They feed at night and hide during the day, often in your kitchen and bathroom, surprising you when you accidentally discover their hiding spot and then bolting faster than you can catch them.
About House Centipedes
The first thing to know about house centipedes is that they’re not dangerous. They are harmless to humans and although they can technically bite, it is exceedingly rare, and their jaws are almost never strong enough to break skin. If they are able to break skin, their bites do have venom, but it is not considered dangerous to humans. Still, their bites are so rare that it’s seen as a non-issue.
But they are gross looking. They have a yellowish-gray body with dark stripes running along the length of their body and legs. House centipedes possess up to 15 pairs of long, delicate legs, with their rear legs extending much farther back than the rest. Like many arthropods, house centipedes have long, sensitive antennae that they use to navigate their surroundings and detect prey.
What makes these centipedes interesting is that, like spiders, they are nature’s pest control. House centipedes are carnivorous and feed on other small insects and arachnids, making them beneficial to have indoors for pest control. Their diet includes:
- Ants
- Spiders
- Cockroaches
- Silverfish
- Termites
- Bed Bugs
House centipedes use their speed and venomous front legs to capture and immobilize their prey. Their venom is used almost exclusively to subdue smaller insects.
Preventing House Centipedes in Your Home
While house centipedes are beneficial, most homeowners may prefer not to have them around. In an ideal world, it would be best not to harm them. They are scary looking, but they are good for your local environment. You can prevent them by:
- Reduce Humidity – Since house centipedes thrive in damp environments, reducing humidity in areas like basements and bathrooms can discourage their presence. Dehumidifiers and proper ventilation are effective ways to control moisture levels.
- Seal Entry Points – Cracks, gaps, and crevices around doors, windows, and foundations can provide entry points for house centipedes. Sealing these gaps can help keep them outside.
- Remove Other Pests – Since house centipedes feed on other insects, controlling other pest populations may reduce the likelihood of attracting house centipedes indoors.
House centipedes may not be a welcome sight, but they play a beneficial role in controlling indoor pests. By naturally reducing populations of other insects, they can help maintain a cleaner and more balanced environment in your home. Although their presence may be unsettling, these harmless creatures can often be left alone to manage household pests quietly and effectively.
If you truly want to prevent house centipedes – and other pests as well – professional pest control will help. For those that are looking for pest control in Staten Island, contact Fillmore Pest today.