Centipedes (also known as centipedes, centipedes or flycatchers) are the name given to arthropods that can often be seen in residential areas. These rather unpleasant-looking creatures have the ability to breathe air, but moisture is a prerequisite for their comfortable existence.
Having noticed such a “monster” in their bathroom, the first reaction of most is a feeling of fear. But are centipedes really that dangerous and how to get rid of them if they decide to settle in a human home.
Centipedes in the house, why such neighbors are dangerous
The appearance of a flycatcher in a house does not threaten its residents. The insect is more active in the dark, so the risk of encountering it will increase at night. When the light is turned on, the centipede rushes to a secluded crevice. If a centipede is spotted in a house in the summer, it is better to catch it and take it outside. You need to catch it not with your hands, but with a can or box. In tropical countries where there are no harsh winters, flycatchers do not migrate into houses.
The flycatcher does not attack without reason
Having settled next to a person, the insect does not encroach on his food, plants and pets. Centipedes do not chew furniture or wallpaper and are not carriers of dangerous diseases. There will also not be an invasion of large numbers of flycatchers; they do not live in families. You can get along peacefully with them, even benefiting from such a neighborhood. The little predator copes well with annoying flies, and if cockroaches are hiding in the apartment, the centipede will get to them.
Is the centipede dangerous for humans? If there is a clear threat to life, such as a pet or human attack, it may bite and inject venom under the skin. A small dose of a paralyzing toxin is not lethal to pets, much less to people. It causes an unpleasant sensation, but no more than a bee sting. A tendency to be allergic to insect venom can aggravate the situation, causing swelling and general malaise.
Do centipedes bite?
Even the most non-aggressive creature can bite out of fear. A flycatcher, even if it attacks an adult, in most cases will not be able to bite through the skin. Children's skin is more delicate and thin, so getting wounds is real. Symptoms of toxin entering the body include redness, itching and burning. What to do if bitten by a centipede? The first piece of advice is don't panic. The poison is very weak and will not cause any harm to health. It is worth acting according to the circumstances:
- disinfect the wound with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide,
- if there is a strong burning sensation and swelling, you should apply a cold compress and hold it until the discomfort disappears,
- if the bite site hurts, take an antihistamine and pain reliever.
Attention. Individual intolerance to flytrap venom can lead to complications
If symptoms of an allergic reaction appear - weakness, dizziness, breathing problems and others, you should go to the hospital.
How to get rid of a flytrap
Not everyone likes the presence of an unpleasant insect in the house, which can fall from the wall directly onto anyone’s head. Many people are afraid of a centipede bite and its consequences. A change in the conditions that are comfortable for it can force the common flycatcher to leave its favorite place. Simple and affordable actions against centipedes:
- The flycatcher loves dampness - it is necessary to ensure a normal level of humidity. Wipe up puddles on the floor in a timely manner, fix leaking taps, and do not leave wet wipes or rags on.
- Airing and good ventilation also reduce humidity in the room.
- Check the basement; there is often an accumulation of rotten boards, old paper, mold and dampness.
- Try to deprive the flytrap of food, destroy flies, cockroaches and other prey yourself.
- Block possible routes of entry into the house - fill cracks with mortar, put screens on windows, repair cracks in the wooden floor.
Attention. Sticky insect traps placed on the floor will not help get rid of the common flycatcher. She runs away from the tape, leaving several detached legs on the surface. This is a small loss for the centipede, because the legs grow back over time.
Many people have encountered centipedes in their apartment at least once in their lives. These creatures come out at night, as they try not to be seen by humans. But if they already meet, they will definitely scare you. So what are these insects and how to deal with them?
How to deal with it
Despite the positive qualities that insects have, not every person can see them in their home. Insects, no matter how useful they are, provide too little pleasure. The fact that an insect can bite does not make it a good neighbor for humans. Getting rid of the centipede that lives with you at home requires a lot of effort, but initially you need to determine the reasons why it appeared in the house.
If a centipede appears inside a building, in a bathhouse or basement, it is recommended to remove all rotting wood or other organic matter and dry the room. It is also recommended to remove all vegetation and organic waste located near the house. Centipedes are attracted to corrugated cardboard and paper, as well as shredded tree bark and clumps of straw.
Centipedes do not live in large colonies, and if you see one of them, it is advisable to catch it, although this is quite difficult.
For those who do not have time to evict the centipede from the apartment without causing harm to it, an effective method is to use a toxic substance designed to destroy the flytrap.
The best thing is to turn to professionals involved in pest control, but it is worth remembering that in some countries the law is to protect these insects and their appearance in the apartment is considered a blessing.
To get rid of centipedes, you need to remove dead grass and rotten wood
According to scientists, many people, after reading this material, will not consider their home the same as before. Almost none of us knows or imagines how many species of insects live inside an apartment. According to research scientists at North Carolina State, it could be hundreds! Experts involved in the research counted more than 500 species:
- insects,
- crustaceans,
- spiders,
- scolopendra, etc.
Researchers visited 50 homes located in different areas of North Carolina in the United States from May to October 2012. Carrying out research, experts took samples of the living creatures they discovered to determine the species. The number of species turned out to be terrifying: 579 species of arthropods belonging to 304 families. Even in the cleanest houses, about 100 different species of insects were found, belonging to one hundred and twenty-eight families. The most common:
- flies,
- worms,
- spiders,
- beetles,
- skin beetles,
- cockroaches,
- ants, centipedes,
- arthropods, etc.
Based on the research results, it was concluded that hundreds of species of different living creatures live with humans in symbiosis, without causing harm or disturbing him.
“No one has ever conducted such studies, so one should not expect that these insects cannot be hiding in other houses. We crawled on all fours with flashlights, collecting everyone who appeared on the way into bottles. Like it or not, there are different types of insects living in your homes. Species such as spiders and the house centipede can be considered harmless to humans,” says one of the study’s authors, Professor Matt Bertone, an entomologist at North Carolina State University.
Bertone says that of the 550 rooms examined, only five of them (four bathrooms and one bedroom) were not found to contain any “uninvited” creatures.
Therefore, despite the appearance and horror that the centipede inspires in you, it is worth considering whether it is necessary to destroy it and fight it. Maybe she will turn out to be a reliable ally in the fight against a whole army of other no less nasty and harmful insects inhabiting your apartments.
Expert advice and preventive measures
The house centipede is a fairly common guest in apartments. They enter the house one by one, so it is quite easy to deal with the insects. Here are a few simple rules that must be followed:
- Eliminate moisture. It is the presence of moisture that is important for the existence of this insect. It is imperative to ensure that water does not drip from pipes and taps anywhere. Be sure to wipe the floor dry in the bathroom so that there are no smudges or puddles. In the bathroom, you can install a good hood or keep the door ajar. This will eliminate moisture and air retention. In addition, you need to check the water supply and eliminate any damage. You need to make sure that there is no mold in the rooms. The fungus is very attractive to flycatchers. You can purchase a special adsorbent that will dry the air. Such bags should be left in places where moisture accumulates the most.
- Constantly ventilate the room. The flycatcher prefers warmth, so as soon as the cold weather begins, it prefers to find a warmer place to hibernate, and this could be someone's home. That is why it is recommended to ventilate, but in moderation.
- Make good lighting. These insects prefer dark, secluded places where they can hide during the day. It will not be possible to completely illuminate all corners, but the cracks need to be checked.
- All cracks and joints must be processed and sealed.
- Eliminate food for centipedes. This insect can feed not only on other insects, but also on leftover human food and house plants. If you eliminate all the conditions for a comfortable existence indoors, then the centipedes will leave the house in search of more suitable places. This is why it is very important to take out the trash on time and not leave food on the table. It is also important to eliminate all insects from your home.
The house centipede is a fairly common guest in apartments.
All these tips will help not only rid your home of centipedes, but will also be a good preventive measure for their reappearance. It is imperative to carry out these actions and take good care of your own home, so that later you do not have to share it with unwanted neighbors.
Proper care
Before you place such a plant in your home, you need to carefully study all the points for caring for it. It is imperative to take into account those conditions that are as close as possible to natural ones.
The eastern part of the room is most suitable for the flycatcher. It is in this part that the flycatcher will be able to get as much time in the sun as it needs (approximately five hours). If it is not possible to place the plant in the eastern part, then you will have to provide light artificially. Otherwise, when there is too much sunlight, the flower will have to be protected from the sun.
Humidity
The Venus flytrap needs plenty of water in its soil. It is because of this that the plant is often grown in aquariums, but in this case the plant will definitely need lighting, which can be provided using a regular incandescent lamp
It is important to maintain a distance of 20 cm, and it should be turned on for 14-16 hours
Ventilation
The Venus flytrap is a plant that is accustomed to swampy areas and requires increased humidity levels to maintain it, but the flytrap cannot tolerate stagnant air. Taking this into account, it is necessary to periodically check the room in which the flytrap is located, but at the same time avoid drafts. In summer, it is best to display the flower at least on the balcony or veranda.
Temperature
It is important to consider the temperature at which the Venus flytrap will be kept. In summer, the plant likes an air temperature of at least 21 degrees, but not more than 30, and in winter, temperatures that drop below 6 degrees can destroy the plant
Watering
The plant cannot process microelements contained in tap water, so it should be watered only with special distilled water.
If you follow all the conditions for caring for a Venus flytrap, then it will grow for a long period of time and delight everyone around with its unusual appearance and the fact that it will fight insects indoors. This plant is suitable only for those who are ready to take responsibility and fulfill all requirements.
the original article
and other tips on how to grow a beautiful home garden on the MyOrchids
.
Source
TOP 10 chemicals from centipedes
The use of chemicals in a private home is extremely effective. But if you have small children or other animals living with you, it is better to prevent them from being in the treated premises during the period of centipede poisoning.
No. 1. Spray "Henkel Combat"
Tool No. 1 in the fight against insects. The aerosol quickly penetrates into cracks, under the bathtub, into spaces between walls and pipes, as well as ventilation shafts. Before use, be sure to read the manufacturer's recommendations. Be prepared for the composition to smell sharp. The cost is about 300-360 rubles.
No. 2. Insect repellent "Lambda Zone"
In search of a solution to how to get rid of centipedes with chemicals, it makes sense to consider using the Lambda Zone product in a private home. The price is 670 rubles, it lasts a long time, there is no smell, the effectiveness is confirmed by numerous reviews. Due to the inclusion of lambda-cyhalothrin, the composition is considered safe for pets and people.
No. 3. Aquafumigator "Raptor"
It is 100% effective, all reviews confirm this. It consists of a fumigator and a water compartment. When the liquid is poured, it begins to evaporate. Steam envelops the room. During the procedure, remove all animals from the room, including fish and rodents. In addition to killing the centipedes, you will also kill flies, cockroaches, spiders and other pests. The pricing policy varies between 400-460 rubles.
No. 4. Insect glue
There are many companies that produce glue. Refer to the products “Clean House”, “Rubit”, “Alt”, “Ecotrap”, etc. Some say that glue traps are ineffective. But if the base is applied in a thick layer in the habitats of centipedes, then they will not get out. The product costs between 100-300 rubles.
No. 5. Gel "GLOBOL"
Initially developed to combat ants and cockroaches. But people successfully use it to get rid of centipedes and are quite satisfied. The product does not smell. Before getting rid of centipedes with its help, the composition must be diluted with water and poured into a spray bottle. In a private house, baseboards and places where insects accumulate are sprayed.
No. 6. Aerosol "Raid"
Designed to control crawling and flying insects. One bottle is designed for a large treatment area. It smells like lavender, not toxic, but it’s still worth ventilating the room. Price - 170-200 rubles.
No. 7. "Medilis-Ziper"
An insecticide that requires the use of gloves and a protective mask. The solution must be poured into a spray bottle and then applied to the habitats of centipedes. The advantage is that the drug is harmless to pets. The cost starts from 160 rubles.
No. 8. Spray "Starex"
An effective and inexpensive remedy for cockroaches and other crawling/flying insects. Convenient to use when treating hard-to-reach places, crevices, as well as baseboards and areas near sewers. The pricing policy ranges from 250-350 rubles.
No. 9. Avalon product
Used by professional disinfectors. Allows you to destroy bedbugs, cockroaches, ants and centipedes, among others. One package is enough for 60 m2, the price is 700 rubles.
No. 10. "Dichlorvos Neo"
This drug is an improved version of a familiar drug. The smell of the aerosol does not appear in any way. Special particles have a fatal effect on pests. From the moment the room is treated, the product continues to work for another half month. Price - from 65 rubles.
Destruction of centipedes in the apartment
Getting rid of centipedes in your home is actually not that difficult. The main thing is to deprive them of favorable conditions, and the chances that these unpleasant “neighbors” will leave the premises themselves will increase significantly. What should be done:
- Monitor humidity (if the apartment becomes drier, arthropods will stop reproducing and may leave the room altogether).
- Ventilate the bathroom more often by opening the door at night.
- Dry the room using special ventilation and heating devices.
- Repair plumbing (bathtubs, pipes, toilets, etc.) if the cause is high humidity in the bathrooms.
- Eliminate mold.
- Fill with silicone or seal in other ways the cracks in the walls, at the junctions of the bathtub and walls, near the doors, from where arthropods get inside.
- Install mesh on windows and ventilation holes.
- Breed “domestic” insects – the main food of centipedes.
- Clean up the area around the house (remove heaps of garbage, last year's rotting leaves, old trash - these are where centipedes breed and then appear through cracks in the living room, and especially in a private wooden house, where there are usually an abundance of cracks).
The listed measures can be equally classified as preventive, and directly combating the goal of destruction can be done more radically.
Insecticides
It is permissible to poison flycatchers if they have proliferated excessively in the apartment or when it is planned to destroy them immediately along with other insects (cockroaches, bedbugs, etc.). There is no special remedy against centipedes, so you can use poison against other crawling parasites, and it will work with equal effect (Medilis - Ziper, Combat, Raid, Clean House, etc.).
Time-tested, reliable chalk “Mashenka” will also have the expected effect not only against cockroaches, but also against centipedes. Insect repellent gels also give a great chance of getting rid of arthropods.
But before it is decided to remove centipedes using chemicals, it is necessary to seal the cracks and restore order in and around the house. Otherwise, after the extension expires, the problem may return again.
When using insecticides in any form (gels, sprays, etc.), it is necessary to observe all safety measures and protect animals and children from contact with these products.
More gentle ways
Another proven and almost universal remedy for unwanted “guests” is boric acid. To destroy a creepy-looking centipede, acid can be used both in the form of a powder (spread around the perimeter of the room and at the entrance) and in the form of a solution (pour in according to the same principle).
Diatom powder is an absolutely safe product, but not for centipedes. This product can be used in the same way as boric acid (sprinkled).
If the centipedes in the house have not bred in large numbers, you can limit yourself to trying to catch them manually (but this can be done, remembering that the arthropod will either try to escape or defend itself).
Fighting flycatchers is not very difficult. Most often, it is enough to competently deprive them of all the necessary conditions, and the uninvited “guests” will leave the house themselves
As a result, you will not have to resort to chemical destruction methods, which is important, especially when children and pets live in the apartment.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZUTp1duavhY%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Preventive actions
To prevent a centipede from starting up in an apartment, you need to avoid excessive dampness and remember that the creature will not live in a dry room. To do this, the following preventive measures should be taken:
- systematic cleaning of “wet” rooms: bathroom and shower, thorough dry wiping of pipes and tiles;
- timely sealing of cracks and crevices in windows, on the floor, at the joints of water pipes;
- fighting insects in the house;
- destruction of mold in the apartment;
- Do not allow water to stagnate in the trays of flower pots;
- Periodically you need to ventilate and dry your home.
- At our dacha in Alexandra, centipedes crawl into our house in the fall.
Disgusting creatures! Huge and scary! It is very difficult to fight them. We poison them with dichlorvos before leaving the dacha for the winter. Answer - Ivan I had a flycatcher living at home. No matter what I tried, it still crawled out of some cracks. And even bit a child when he tried to pick it up. Complex baiting using chemicals helped
Sources
- https://prusakam.net/mnogonozhki-v-kvartire/
- https://bioros.net/nasekomye/sorokonozhka-doma-chem-opasna-i-kakoy-vred-nanosit.html
- https://TaraKlop.ru/mnogonozhki/sorokonozhka/
- https://VrediteliSOS.ru/nasekomye/skolopendra-foto.html
- https://apest.ru/nasekomye/domashnyaya-sorokonozhka/
- https://klopkan.ru/nasekomye-v-kvartire/sorokonozhka/
- https://stoppestinfo.com/ru/454-vse-o-sorokonozhkakh.html
- https://belt-wrestling.su/vshi/vidy-sorokonozhek.html
- https://izbavitsya-ot-vrediteley.ru/kvartirye-mnogonozhki.html
- https://VrediteliSOS.ru/nasekomye/nasekomoe-muholovka.html
[collapse]
A little about the species of scolopendra
In total there are more than 90 species of scolopendra. They belong to the family of labiopods. These are long insects, sometimes reaching 15 cm in length, with a segmented body and a large number of legs. Most often, scolopendra is yellowish or brownish in color. On an adult individual, three stripes of bluish or brown color can be found on the back.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=emIZooS9GN4%3Ffeature%3Doembed
In the process of evolution, the first pair of legs at the head of the centipede turned into pincers. It is at their expense that prey is caught. The domestic scolopendra is a predatory creature that actively consumes flies, cockroaches and bedbugs. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. It can catch several insects at once and eat them for several days.
But if you do get bitten by a scolopendra, be prepared for the following consequences (we’ll warn you right away, not fatal). The bites can be very painful and go away slowly over 1-2 days. The main symptoms that you may experience: at the very moment of the bite there will be a sharp and prolonged pain,
the severity of the pain may vary (from slight to “10” on a 10-point pain scale), body temperature may increase, you may feel severe weakness, most likely, the sensitivity of the skin in the bite area will significantly increase, swelling and redness will appear, and may also loss of sensation and a feeling of numbness may occur.
Scolopendras are somewhat similar to wasps, which do not leave a sting in the wound and can sting a person several times in a row. Often, at the moment of detection by a person, this creature continues to inflict multiple punctures, introducing even more poison. Centipedes usually bite when a person is resting in bed, but they can also crawl into clothes and bite the moment you start getting dressed.
But there is good news: scolopendra bites are not fatal! For a person to die from its poison, he must be bitten by several thousand individuals at the same time!
Helpful advice: if you are bitten by a scolopendra, find a heating pad at home, fill it with moderately hot water (up to 45 degrees C) and apply it to the bite site - this simple measure should bring relief. Scientists have not yet found an explanation for this phenomenon, but they suspect that this is possible due to the fact that some components of scolopendra venom are unstable to heat. The second remedy is ice and analgesics.
And you don’t have to worry about clothes, paper documents, furniture and other items. A centipede is not a moth or a silverfish. She is not at all interested in your things. Another thing is that some centipedes can spoil the air in the house due to the fact that they secrete a bad-smelling secretion - but this is unlikely - there must be too many of these arthropods in your house for you to smell it.
We hope we didn't intimidate you. Therefore, at the end, in order to “whiten up” our heroes a little, let’s tell you how centipedes are useful. They are very active in destroying pests. Their diet includes bedbugs, flies, cockroaches, termites and even spiders. So sometimes centipedes turn into real “guardians of housing” from even more harmful creatures. Therefore, if you are not afraid of such many-legged neighbors, then live with them “in peace and harmony.”
Insect species
There are several dozen species of centipedes, the main similarities of which are their general structural features and a large number of limbs. The giant scolopendra lives in South America. Due to its large size, small rodents, amphibians and birds can become its victims. The jaws of this scolopendra are poisonous; the insect’s bite can cause harm to humans (weakness, swelling and pain).
Scutigera typically has a yellow-gray body color and long, striped limbs. Its length is about 6 centimeters, it feeds on arthropods and lives in Africa, Kazakhstan, the Caucasus, and in the southern part of Russia - in countries with a warm climate. She often lives in fallen leaves, but with the onset of cold weather she looks for a warm shelter.
In winter, Scolopendra scutigera may end up in a person’s home. It is not able to bite through the skin, but its bite can be compared to that of an aspen. Also, scutigera does not harm furniture or spoil food supplies, so in some areas it is considered a useful centipede that eats pests. In the photo below you can see what this type of animal looks like.
Ringed species live in southern European countries and are about 15 centimeters long. This is a dexterous predator that eats arthropods and small reptiles.
Methods to combat centipedes
Understanding what a scolopendra looks like, what habits it has, where it hides and what it eats, you can develop a plan to get it out of the house. To get rid of insects in an apartment forever, you need to conduct a thorough analysis of the premises, solving problems with dampness and moisture in individual areas.
Considering that centipedes feed on small insects, you need to try to make sure that there are no insects in the house at all. No food, no arthropod predators.
A wooden floor with cracks in a room attracts insects, opening up a lot of opportunities for home improvement and reproduction. A simple coating of mastic or varnish will help solve the problem; insects cannot tolerate the smell of chemicals.
Leaking pipes in the bathroom or toilet must be repaired or replaced. Otherwise, none of the methods of combating flycatchers will work. Comfortable indoor conditions will attract more and more individuals there.
It is worth paying attention to the pallets under house flowers. Excess stagnant water will also attract insects
If arthropods in the house feel more than at ease despite all preventive measures, continue to reproduce and are increasingly seen even during the day, it is worth trying to use repellents or insecticidal sprays for crawling creatures
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a flytrap, an insect or not, drugs of this kind most often have a wide spectrum of action.
In conclusion, we note that killing living beings, even if they are not the most pleasant in appearance, is inhumane. Therefore, in order to prevent an uncomfortable neighborhood at home, you need to try to create conditions unfavorable for insects. Scolopendra, also known as the flytrap, is of little danger to humans; its appearance in an apartment is the result of a violation of sanitary standards, which means that responsibility for solving the problem also lies solely with the owners of the apartment.
A centipede encountered in one's own apartment often terrifies people. An insect running quickly seems dangerous and aggressive. In fact, such statements have a basis. The centipede insect is a predator; it is indeed capable of attacking and biting, but not a person, but a fly or moth. She tries to avoid contact with people, hiding in hard-to-reach corners. If there is a clear threat, the centipede may bite; the insect's venom causes problems for people with allergies.
House centipede moves along walls
Habits, instincts and life of the flycatcher are the most interesting
You should know that the centipede (the photo will not allow you to make a mistake) is an insect that is equally active at any time of the day. Every hour, every minute she looks for prey. As soon as the victim is identified, the flycatcher injects a portion of a toxic substance into it to neutralize it and only after that it eats it without haste. The insect is very fast, capable of covering up to 40 centimeters in one second.
On average, a female flyeater lays up to 6 dozen eggs at a time. All of them are protected with a sticky substance and placed in a hole or deep crack carefully dug by mom. The insect carefully wraps its body around the clutch of eggs and tries to close it from the outside world with its paws. In this way, the scolopendra “nurses” the eggs for many weeks, without leaving the nest even a centimeter, and does not eat or drink anything.
The common centipede is an insect with a mission. Being a representative of the most ancient inhabitants of the planet, it deserves special attention. At first glance, scary and unpleasant insects actually provide invaluable assistance to humans by eating a lot of pests, for example:
- flies,
- cockroaches,
- fleas,
- ants,
- bedbugs, etc.
There are up to 8,000 species of this insect in the world, but only 3,000 of them have been officially documented, such as the Chinese centipede, which reaches a quarter of a meter in length with a body of 23 sections, or the bright black African centipede with a body up to 28 cm long!
Almost none of the discovered species of centipedes are dangerous to humans. Yes, arthropods can bite, but all that a centipede bite can do is cause allergies, and then only in people who are prone to this kind of reaction with a slight increase in temperature and swelling at the site of the bite.
In the insect world, the centipede is one of the dominant predators with claws on the first segment. She is a carnivore, so she prefers clean meat from small insects. Large species can cope not only with invertebrates, but also with small reptiles, as well as worms, frogs, spiders and even birds.
Nutrition
All representatives of the superclass are predators. They usually eat:
- ants and their larvae;
- domestic cockroaches;
- flies, ticks.
Some species, such as the giant and ringed scolopendra, found in South America and Jamaica, are capable of hunting mice, frogs and lizards.
Centipedes use poison to paralyze and kill their victims. However, there is no need to be afraid of them: the poison produced by centipedes is harmful only to small arthropods, but not to mammals. In rare cases, the poison can provoke allergies.
Centipedes feed as follows. Having caught the victim, they inject poison into them and hold it with strong jaws and paws until the insect is completely immobilized. Only after this do they start eating.
Centipedes also destroy insects that harm agriculture. In some countries, for this reason they are under government protection.
How to effectively solve the problem
An integrated approach should be taken to any problem. To find out how to remove centipedes, you need to carefully read each option and adopt the ones that are most suitable for the specific situation in the house.
List of effective preventive measures
In order for a centipede to leave its habitable space, it must be deprived of the necessary factors of existence. So the insect will be forced to go in search of more comfortable habitats for it. What should you do first?
- Ensure normal humidity levels at home. By depriving the labiopods of a moist environment, they will stop reproducing.
- Take care of ventilation of the premises - install air dehumidifiers or ventilation heat devices.
- Check that all water pipes are in good condition and that there is no condensation on them.
- Maintain dryness in the basement of a cottage or country house; promptly eliminate dampness and mold on all surfaces.
- Remove all harmful insects (cockroaches, beetles, flies and mosquitoes, bedbugs and fleas) from your home. Without food in the house, centipedes will not stay long; they will leave on their own.
- Block all known places of entry of arthropods into the home: eliminate cracks in the floor, on the walls (especially near doors), and holes in window openings. In the toilet and bathroom, it is advisable to fill the cracks with silicone. It is recommended to install a mosquito net on the windows.
- Constantly inspect the local area to ensure there are no rubble or other impurities like various deposits. In them, the centipede will begin to reproduce at an accelerated pace, and therefore will soon appear at home.
Reasons for appearance
Since humidity is the main condition for the normal development and comfortable existence of centipedes, these arthropods cannot take root everywhere. But in addition to humidity, they, like any living beings, need food, suitable air temperature, and in the case of the uninvited guests in question, also the absence of bright light.
Therefore, if centipedes appear in the house, you should check:
- humidity level in the living room and in the basement;
- presence of insects in the apartment (flies, bedbugs, cockroaches, moths, etc.);
- air temperature (centipedes are comfortable at 18 – 23 degrees);
- taps and pipes for leaks and condensation;
- the presence of cracks in the walls and floor;
- the condition of the yard (whether old rubbish, garbage has been removed, whether there are piles of dirt adjacent to the walls of the house).
If the apartment is humid, warm, and there are insects, this is quite enough for centipedes to become “neighbors” of a person.
