Getting Rid Of Centipedes

Centipedes are usually brownish, flattened, and elongate animals which have many body segments.

Centipedes:

are flattened, with many different body segments .

Have one pair of legs attached to most of these body segments.

Centipedes differ from millipedes in that millipedes have two pairs of legs on most segments and bodies which are not flattened.
Centipedes are between 1-6 inches and the House Centipede is 1-1/12 inches.

Centipedes usually live outdoors in damp areas such as under leaves, stones, boards, tree bark, or in mulch around outdoor plantings.
If they are around the foundation of the house, they may wander inside.

Larger centipedes can bite if they are injured, with a light swelling.

A physician should be consulted if the bite has penetrated the skin.

The centipede is beneficial, eating other insects.
Centipedes do not damage food supplies or household furnishings.

Most centipedes are active at night.

Biology:

Centipedes typically overwinter outdoors, and, in the summer, lay 35 eggs or more in or on the soil.

Newly hatched centipedes have four pairs of legs; during subsequent molts, the centipede progressively increases the number of legs until becoming adult.

Adults of many species live a year and some as long as five to six years.

House Centipedes:

The house centipede is a common pest in many parts of the United States. Unlike most other centipedes, this species generally lives its entire life inside a building.

The house centipede is grey-yellow with three stripes down the back and has very long legs banded with white. The largest centipedes are found in the Southwest. The body of this centipede is usually only 1 to 1 1/2 inches long at the most, but it's 15 pairs of legs make it seem much larger. The body is grayish-yellow with 3 dark stripes extending along the full length of the back.

In homes, the house centipede will prefer to live in damp areas such as cellars, closets, bathrooms, attics (during the warmer months) and unexcavated areas under the house.

Eggs are laid in these same damp places, as well as behind baseboards or beneath bark on firewood.

CENTIPEDE CONTROL

Centipedes can be prevented from gaining entry into buildings by sealing and caulking gaps around siding, windows, doors, pipes, wires and other structural voids.

Removal of centipedes habitats including trash, rocks, boards, compost piles, and other hiding places around the structure would help reduce the population.

1. Cyonara 9.7*Top recommendation (Broader label and longer lasting-may be used on ornamentals as well and will dry invisible. The Cyper WP or Demon WP leave a visible residual that can be seen against dark wood.
   
   Cyonara 9.7 Insecticide
   
   
   
2. Cyper WP
   
   Cyper WP

Cyper WP and Demon WP have the same label, but you can get smaller amounts with the Demon WP


3. Demon WP
   Demon WP



You may use three residual sprays : Cyonara 9.7, Cyper WP or Demon WP inside or outside

You may also use an aerosol like 250 Propoxur Residual Insecticide, sprayed around doors and windows and other places where these pests may enter premises.

These products should be applied as a 3- to 10-foot band around the perimeter of the structure, into harborage sites, and/or around potential entry points. Both products will give you long term residual-about 3 months, and is a good spray for all types of surfaces.

The House Centipede will prefer to live in damp areas like basements, bathrooms, behind baseboards, or attics.

House centipedes can be controlled indoors by eliminating their harborage areas where possible and using a vacuum to remove exposed centipedes.

Liquid and dust applications can be introduced into wall voids, cracks and crevices along baseboards and into other potential hiding places.

Cyonara 9.7   OR  Cyper WP should be applied to those areas, and a recommended dust for attic areas would be Drione dustor  Delta Dust