Centipedes are those little green, brown, or yellow critters that most people have a phobia of. They are found mostly in houses and crawl around the ground. Centipedes are harmless and usually do not bite unless provoked.
When it comes to extermination in the house, many people have the question, does killing centipedes attract more? The answer is yes.
Killing centipedes is a tricky endeavor. It’s not an easy task and killing the wrong one could attract more, making your situation worse.
Centipedes are often misunderstood creatures, but killing them will just make things worse.
In this blog post we’ll go over what you need to know about killing these creatures!
Table of Contents
Does killing centipedes attract more?
I really dislike bugs.
Bugs are terrible!
Every year thousands of households deal with the trouble of handling them.
Centipedes are a common pest in many households in the United States.
They can be found in dark, humid spaces such as wet basements or bathrooms.
The majority of centipedes found in the home are non-poisonous and do not harm humans.
They do, however, have few natural predators, making their population difficult to control.
Centipedes are mostly carnivores. They eat crickets, worms, ants and other small creatures.
I used to love killing centipedes in my house but then I realized killing them isn’t really what makes more of them appear.
The killing method you use is key to whether or not killing a centipede will actually attract more of them.
Predators and scavengers like reptiles and other centipedes, have even been known to devour the parts of freshly dead centipedes, in order to consume the critical organs within it.
If you’re using poison, it’s possible that the spray could spread and kill some other insect in addition to the centipedes.
These insects may be another food source for the pests which would then lead to an increase in their population.
How long do house centipedes live?
I used to see these creatures all the time when I was a kid.
The fact that these creatures are so common in nature makes me believe we’ve got a lot of opportunity to learn about them and how long they live.
This is a question I’ve had floating around my head for a while now, and it is one that I am glad I found an answer to.
How long do house centipedes live?
The lifespan of these invertebrates is said to be between one and six years.
The typical lifespan of them is five to six years.
I’ve thought about the lifespan of centipedes and find it to be quite long.
Furthermore, though it is still a relatively long life compared to many other creatures, it indicates that there is a natural limit to the life of these particular arthropods and that within a certain range, arthropods can expect relatively long lives.
I’m relieved that now I know that I’m not alone in my curiosity about how long a house centipede can live.
I knew they lived a long time, but I didn’t know how long until I found this answer.
What eats house centipedes?
Despite house centipedes being able to live for such a long time, they do have predators in the wild.
Insectivorous animals such as spiders, lizards, and frogs prey on centipedes.
Additionally, birds like hawks will feed on them when they find their way into a bird’s nest or roost.
Centipede hunting can also happen at night with some of these predators using their sensitive hearing to detect the sound of a centipede moving.
Some other animals that eat house centipedes are shrews, rodents such as mice and rats, as well as bats.
Predators like these keep populations in check for insects with little effort on our part which is good news if you’re someone who doesn’t want to spray pesticides around your home.
How do you know if you have a centipede infestation?
Centipedes may seem harmless with their small size and slender legs.
But beware, they’re not as innocent as they seem.
Outside, centipedes can be found running around looking for prey and they have a very painful bite.
The bites are usually not serious and seem to get better within a few hours.
But a centipede infestation can be very destructive.
Inside, they can eat any organic materials like paper products and books.
Some homeowners may not notice a problem until large piles of debris have accumulated in one area or the bug bites start to get noticeable.
You may start to realize you have a centipede infestation problem when you start to notice bugs in your walls or ceilings.
The centipedes will crawl out from cracks and crevices, attracted by insects and light coming through windows.
It is important that you seal up any cracks with caulking spray where the insects may be entering into your home.
Another way you can identify a possible infestation is by looking for centipedes in your yard.
Look around the base of trees, near logs, compost piles and under leaf piles where they may be hiding out during daylight hours or coming to get some food at night.
You can also see them as they come up from tree stumps when you are chopping down dead wood and leaves.
Does bleach kill centipedes?
I’ve always wondered if bleach really kills centipedes because I remember reading on social media that people think this is a myth.
I’m sorry to report that I have found pretty much no sources of anything to show that bleach kills centipedes, especially if they have been sprayed and are near-death.
So, if not bleach, what is the best way to kill centipedes?
I’ve seen social media posts for everything from salt to cayenne pepper.
The best way is a mixture of borax and water in an area where they are known to be living.
It can also help if you know the location of their main entrance, which is usually in moist soil or mulch near the foundation of your home.
To kill a centipede, you also need to use an insecticide specifically designed for killing them and apply it as directed on the label.
It is important that you seal up any cracks with caulking spray where the insects may be entering into your home so they do not have potential access points from which to enter.
Can you kill centipedes with salt?
What should you do when you find a centipede in your house?
Well, I’ll tell you what I do: I kill it!
I don’t believe in being too nice to bugs, and in my experience, they are just the worst.
You will never know when they’re coming back to “say hello” and like any other bug, they give you an ornery itch that is driving you mad.
I know that some people say that centipedes can’t be killed with salt, but I am here to tell you the opposite: I have spent time looking for information on killing these pests and I have found this video that shows a salt solution to work just fine.
I hope next time I see one of those centipedes I just have to throw some salt in it’s direction.
The little guy may be tough but it can’t stand the taste of salt as much as I can.
Conclusion
Centipedes are found worldwide and in almost every habitat from areas of high altitude to the tropics.
Centipedes are often considered pests in gardens because they eat other bugs.
Killing centipedes may not be the best option for your garden as it can attract more of them to come and feast on what you’ve just eliminated.
They generally feed on small invertebrates, but some will also eat other arthropods including bed bugs, spiders or other centipedes.
Some species may bite humans if provoked or trapped against their body; this can result in a painful wound that is difficult to heal unless treated promptly with antibiotics.
