How to Get Rid of Centipedes

Does vinegar kill centipedes

There are over 2,000 species of centipedes in the globe, with the majority of them living nearly entirely outside. They do go inside now and again, particularly during the colder months. Although they are safe to people and help to eliminate many spiders and insects around the home, their bite contains venom and they aren’t the most beautiful of house visitors. Here’s what you should do if you want to get rid of centipedes once and for all.

Killing the Centipedes

1. Kill them right now! Because of their abnormally long legs, they are very speedy, therefore you must act quickly. Centipedes don’t normally infest houses in great numbers, so you may be able to eliminate your issue simply by stomping on or spraying every one you see. It should be noted that if you are terrified to even approach or be near the centipede, vacuum cleaners will be useless. If you don’t want to kill the centipede, try catching it in a jar and releasing it outdoors; however, this frequently results in a high-pitched scream, a shattered jar, and a free centipede.

2. Set up some sticky traps. Simply lay them in nooks and cracks where centipedes are known to congregate. Other insects that are secretly creeping about your house may also be caught. Larger centipedes that walk across sticky or glue traps may escape by simply leaving a few legs behind. Sticky traps work well on little centipedes, not bigger ones.

3. If none of these natural solutions work, consider using an insecticide. Remember that pesticides are simply a short-term remedy. These items are available at any garden supply shop. Just be sure you follow the instructions on the packaging. Even though these items are unlikely to harm dogs or people, it is better to avoid extended contact with them. Sticky traps may notify you to high traffic locations, enabling you to spray or set extra sticky traps in these places. If one of your sticky traps becomes really popular but none of your others do, odds are the popular one should get the most of your attention.

• If you want to kill centipedes but don’t want to damage the land, yourself, or your pets, you may use natural insecticides like boric acid or food grade diatomaceous earth.
• Pyrethroid-containing products (cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, permethrin, or tralomethrin) can kill centipedes on contact and may be used as a fog or spray.

4. Set up a barrier all the way around your house. Consider building a moat-like barrier around the exterior of your home, whether it’s made of chemical pesticide, natural insecticide, or something else. Because centipedes emerge from the outside and enter the house. When they do, they will pass through the pesticide barrier. If they make it inside, they should be dead or dying by the time you locate them. Try applying an organic insecticide containing cyhalothrin, which is mostly used to control ants but also works on centipedes.

5. Seek expert assistance. If you’ve tried everything to get rid of the creepy-crawly bugs, it may be time to call in professional exterminator. Exterminators may crawl around your house looking for possible entry ways, detect and kill centipede eggs, and treat areas of your property with effective pesticides. We probably don’t like to acknowledge it, but exterminators are superior at detecting and eliminating problems. If you can afford it and are at your wit’s end, they’re worth the money.

Keeping Centipedes Away for Good

1. Remove any additional pests from the house. The centipedes will get hungry and will either die or move in with the neighbors. A centipede without nourishment is the same as a dead or about to die centipede.

2. Maintain the dryness of your house. If centipedes are not kept wet, they will dry out and perish. Use a dehumidifier to dry out basements, closets, and other wet spaces. Place silica packets in the dampest areas of your house. Silica is an absorbent that draws moisture from the air and the ground. Look for silica packets in new shoes, or purchase some inexpensively. Keep them in your home’s dampest areas.

3. Take away any organic debris from the side of your home. Place firewood, mulch, tarpaulins, and compost bins as far away from the house’s perimeter as feasible. Get rid of any compost, leaves, wood, or organic material. If at all feasible, get rid of wet objects like compost containers.

4. All entry points must be sealed. This will keep the pests out of your house in the first place. Caulk around doors and windows and seal any gaps in concrete foundations.

• Apply weatherstripping to the exterior of your home to keep centipedes away.
• Caulk any gaps between the walls.
• Examine the gutters and downspouts and remove any leaves, branches, or other debris that may be obstructing the natural flow of water down the gutter. This might be a suitable habitat for centipedes.

5. Cayenne pepper is an option. For a natural technique to keep centipedes away from your house, consider sprinkling a thin coating of cayenne pepper at all access points, both outside and inside. Dogs and cats should avoid it, however they will not be gravely harmed if they get intrigued.