There are currently more than 2000 species of centipedes in the world and most of them live exclusively in the open air. Sometimes they enter homes and gardens, especially in the coldest winter months. Although these insects are harmless to humans and kill many spiders, their bite contains venom. Also, it is not pleasant to have them at home. Here are some techniques to get rid of centipedes.
Catch it fast
Its legs make it a very fast insect, so you will have to catch it immediately and anticipate its movements. Keep in mind that if you are afraid to even approach or be near the centipede, you will never catch it. If you don’t want to kill it, you can catch it in a jar and drop it outside.
Set sticky traps
You can also place sticky traps in the corners and crevices where centipedes often climb. However, larger centipedes could escape traps simply by leaving behind a pair of legs. This is why these types of traps are most effective for small centipedes.
Test with insecticide
If you can’t catch the centipede with the traps, you could try insecticides. However, this is only a temporary solution, as it is better not to have prolonged contact with them. Sticky traps are sure to warn you of areas where there are more insects, so you could spray insecticide in these areas of the house or place more traps.
On the other hand, if you want to get rid of centipedes but do not want to poison the soil in your garden or your pets, a good option is natural pesticides such as boric acid or diatomaceous earth. Products that contain pyrethroids (a group of man-made pesticides developed to control pests) kill centipedes on contact.
Seek professional help
If you’ve tried everything and neither technique works for you, the best thing to do is seek professional help. Exterminators will find potential entry points and destroy centipede eggs, spraying parts of your home with effective pesticides.
Plus, exterminators quickly locate the problem and make sure it’s gone, so you never have to worry about pests again.
