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The Ultimate Guide To Effective Centipede Control For Aiken Homeowners
July 10, 2023
Though centipedes are mostly harmless, they can look quite scary as you turn on the light in the bathroom and see them scurrying away. Centipedes are known for their many pairs of legs (up to 177) and for dwelling in dark, moist environments, such as the bathroom or basement. Understandably, this makes discovering one in the middle of the night all the more unnerving.
While centipedes are known to hunt other insects, like flies and silverfish, a centipede infestation can get out of hand. The best solution to get rid of centipedes for good is to seek out pest control in Aiken, and we’ve put together the ultimate guide to effective centipede control below. You’ll learn about the common life cycle of centipedes, why you don’t have to be afraid of them, and what you can do to keep them away for good.
The Life Cycle Of Common Centipedes
Different kinds of centipedes can quickly become a nuisance. Centipedes typically mate during warmer months and are dormant during the cold season. Scutigera centipedes, or house centipedes, can produce up to 35 eggs, while other types of centipedes produce live young. Females who lay eggs place them in cracks in damp areas inside or in the soil or rotting logs outside.
When some species of centipedes hatch, they have fewer legs than adult centipedes, so the nymphs undergo periods of molting. Other species are born with all of their legs, such as Scolopendromoprhae. Nymphs typically take a long time to grow into adulthood, and some take years to develop into their adult bodies. House centipedes continue to grow more legs until they die. House centipedes can live up to seven years.
Centipedes in Aiken prefer to inhabit garden beds and other moist areas outside, which means you may find centipedes in plants around your house. Inside, you can often find them in the bathroom, basement, or garage. In colder months, centipedes dwell in moist, warm areas that are secluded, where they can overwinter before mating in the spring.
Centipedes Aren't As Dangerous As They Look
While centipedes are venomous and predatory, it’s only toward other insects. The venom isn’t potent enough to be dangerous to people, and centipedes rarely “bite” humans. A centipede bites their prey by puncturing them with a pair of spiny forelegs located on the first segment of their body. Centipede bites may be somewhat painful to humans, but these pests only bite if they’re provoked.
In fact, centipedes are more afraid of you than you are of them. That’s why they scurry away back into dark places when you turn on the light. However, centipedes can be a major nuisance when you have an infestation.
The Effective Way To Get Rid Of A Centipede Infestation
What counts as a centipede infestation? If you rarely see a centipede, you can let them go about their business of helping rid your garage or garden of other pesky insects. However, you may be less inclined to do so if you find one or more treading on your personal space in your bathroom. A centipede infestation becomes apparent when you regularly spot more than one centipede in your house.
The most effective way to get rid of a centipede infestation is by securing pest control services, which can prove more effective than DIY solutions which provide temporary relief. Finding dead centipedes around your property isn’t ideal, but it’s better than letting an infestation take over.
Steps You Can Take To Prevent Future Centipede Infestations
Whether you’re trying to get rid of centipedes in your basement, bathroom, or garden, it can be difficult to track down centipedes to just one source. Next to home pest control services, prevention is the best method. Here are a few steps you can take to prevent future centipede infestations:
- Reduce high-moisture areas in and around your home.
- Remove logs, leaves, and grass clips from near your home.
- Seal all crevices, cracks, and gaps that centipedes can use to enter the home.
If you’re tired of finding centipedes on your Aiken property, our pest control experts are licensed and provide honest service. Jury Pest Services prides itself on quality pest control in Aiken that ensures your peace of mind. Contact us today for a consultation.