Can Centipedes Climb Stairs?

Centipedes are frightening creatures.

They have many legs, an unpleasant appearance and they are known to bite humans.

But centipedes don’t just live outdoors; they can also be found indoors too!

If you’re a homeowner who is tired of centipedes coming into your house, we’ve got some news for you: centipedes can climb stairs!

This means that all you need to do is close off any entrances on the ground floor and the centipede will not be able to find its way up into your home.

This blog post discusses centipedes and whether or not they can climb stairs.

Can centipedes climb stairs?

Centipedes are one of most common creatures in the world of pest control and they can virtually not be eradicated off the planet, although people spend a lot of effort to do this.

I wonder sometimes if the spiders scurry and scoff at us but we never see it because we chase them away into hiding.

As your yard gets larger, so do the chances of you having an unwanted centipede encounter.

Not only are these small creatures annoying, but they can also damage your property and pose a risk to your family and pets.

Related: Can Cats Get Fleas From a Balcony? How to Keep Them Away

But can these creepy crawlies climb stairs seems to be a very odd and crazy question.

I often find myself asking this question when I have one in my kitchen! 

Centipedes are well known and feared to climb walls.

Why not stairs?

As many centipedes as there are, it’s difficult to know with certainty whether or not they can climb stairs.

But if I had a centipede in my kitchen climbing a wall I wouldn’t be surprised if they also climbed stairs.

The centipede’s ability to move around a house is determined by the centipede species.

Giant centipede species like Scolopendra, the centipede that can grow up to 12 inches long, are most likely able to climb stairs because they can climb walls.

The centipedes in your home may be a variety of smaller species and therefore not as mobile and capable of climbing the stairs but they’re still some type of centipede!

So don’t worry too much about them getting upstairs.

Just keep centipedes off your kitchen counters and away from food prep areas, which will help you feel more at ease.

How do house centipedes get upstairs?

I have had a house centipede crawl up in the house.

It is clear that we needed to treat the house to prevent more pests from coming in.

House centipedes are known for their less aggressive nature, but they do not hesitate to attack humans when provoked.

The centipede crawled up the stairs and into my bedroom.

I have never been bitten before by a centipede, but I was terrified.

It just sat on the wall and stared at me for a few minutes before it ran off.

I had to sleep with the light on that night.

The centipede crawled up into my bedroom, so it is clear that they can climb stairs.

But how?

I believe centipedes are capable of climbing up the stairs because they have long legs that can grip onto vertical surfaces.

In some cases, they may be long enough to reach all the way across an entire flight of steps without any issues!

The centipede does have claws, but what’s important is a set of sticky pads on the bottom side of each foot, also known as arthropod adhesion.

The centipedes’ feet have small hooks that help them grip onto surfaces.

I am sure centipedes bite humans, but I also know they can climb stairs.

I have not seen any centipedes in my house since the incident.

The centipede made a huge mess and I hope it never comes back!

What happens if a centipede crawls on you?

Imagine you’re awake one night and your bed starts moving.

You look over and see a centipede crawling across the sheets.

You get a little freaked out, so you try to run into the bathroom, but the centipede keeps moving.

You look around and notice that the centipede is sticking to your back and is slowly crawling its way down your arm.

The next thing you know, there is a centipede almost crawling on your face.

You panic and start screaming to get it off, but the centipede won’t let go.

You try shoving the centipede off, but it’s just not working and you’re starting to sweat.

You’re panicking, and you’re not sure what to do.

Then the centipede lets go of your arm on its own accord.

This is not an experience you want to go through again.

So what can happen to your skin if a centipede crawls on you?

Centipedes are not poisonous to humans, but they can cause itchy, localized and uncomfortable skin irritation.

The venom from their mandibles can cause pain and swelling in areas that they bite.

The centipede’s saliva can also cause mild irritation or an inflamed skin reaction.

Why are there house centipedes in your house?

I personally like to think that centipedes are one of the most determined predators there are.

They will invade a house and stay hungry until they find their way in, or someone opens the door and they take the opportunity to scurry around.

House centipedes can find their way into a house because of one or all of the following reasons:

1. Moisture and dampness in the house

House centipedes can survive in a wide range of environments, including high humidity and moisture levels found under carpets or furniture, in basements with water leaks and under refrigerators.

2. Openings around the property

House centipedes will not usually enter a house through open doors or windows, but they will take advantage of any openings that are large enough and close to the ground.

This includes cracks in the foundation, gaps around window and door frames or any other openings that might allow them access to a house.

3. Existing centipede population

House centipedes are usually transported into a house when someone brings in infested items such as firewood, potted plants or flower arrangements.

A house centipede problem is usually the result of them being introduced from outside into an area where they are not normally found.

4. Kills

The house centipede is not considered to be a major household pest. They do, however, feed on other insects and are capable of killing them.

Will centipedes crawl on your bed?

I’ve found centipede’s to be really creepy.

They look disgusting and seem like they chew on dead flesh.

I also don’t want them crawling up my stairs and onto the bed where I’m sleeping.

So, can centipedes crawl on your bed?

The house centipede is not considered to be a major household predator. They do, though, feed on other insects and are capable of killing them.

House centipedes can climb stairs but they prefer the ground floor which provides more shelter opportunities. Centipedes will crawl up onto your bed if it’s in their way while they are looking for food.

If you want to know if centipedes can climb stairs, the answer is yes and they may crawl onto your bed as well.

What to do if there is a centipede in your room

In my own house, there are a lot of little crawl spaces and fissures that I have come to know about.

They’re terrible places for some insects and creatures to hide.

And if you touch them, they jump out at you. Eeeeek!

If you’re in the process of remodeling or are planning to do so in the near future, it is a good idea to rid yourself of this pest problem.

Why?

Well, as it turns out, centipedes may be more of a nuisance than anything else.

They’re also one of the most commonly encountered pests when it comes to interior home remodeling.

Most studies show that they are not dangerous to humans, unless you have a severe allergic reaction.

But what’s the point in having a pest in your home?

The main good to come from them is the fact that they feed on other bugs, such as roaches and silverfish.

But these are bugs that you’ll be able to get rid of, so long as you make the necessary repairs and improvements to your home.

So, if you want a pest free environment on the inside of your house without having professional help, it’s best to get rid of any centipedes that you find in your home.

There are many ways to do this, and it doesn’t need to be expensive.

• A vacuum and dehumidifier will work, as they’re too small for the machine to suck up and it will remove moisture from the immediate area.

• Getting rid of your clutter and old furniture will help, as centipedes like to hang around in dark spaces.

• Check for cracks in the floorboards or around window frames and seal them up with caulk.

• Making sure you keep your house clean, from the top of the ceiling to the bottom of the floor will also help.

• The best way to remove centipedes in your home though is by using insecticides and diatomaceous earth.

Get prepared for centipedes to use your staircase!

Centipedes can climb stairs.

They have a set of leg-like appendages that help them to move upwards, downwards and on either side.

This makes it possible for centipedes to inhabit a wide variety of environments, including trees, walls and homes with staircases.

When they reach the top of the staircase, centipedes will often crawl over whatever is there and winch themselves down in order to make their way back down as well.

They are much more likely to crawl up the side of a wall or furniture rather than walk on top of it.

If you have one in your house and want to get rid of them, there are many ways that work well for this purpose.

You could use an insecticide spray at the baseboards where centipedes tend to hide during nighttime hours.

Or maybe try using diatomaceous earth!