Centipedes are intimidating. They have long bodies, they have several legs, and they creep around your home. When you look at a centipede, they make your skin crawl; but are they going to hurt you? The answer isn’t as easy as you would think. If you always ask yourself, “Are centipedes dangerous?” Adam’s Pest Control has your answer.
What Does a Centipede Look Like?
A centipede is an arthropod from the class Chilopoda. These insects are long and have several pair of legs along the side of their bodies and long antennae at the top of their heads. What many people assume is that the centipede has 100 legs, but they don’t! A centipede can have as few as 30 legs or more than 350, depending on the species and the age of the insect. Depending on the species of centipede, this insect can grow as long as 12 inches. Fortunately, the centipedes creeping around your Minnesota home are no more than an inch or so in size.
Dangers of Centipedes
Most centipedes are venomous, but not all. The centipede has special front limbs that have glands on them that are full of venom. The centipede uses its venom to stun their prey. Fortunately for you, the venom in a regular house centipede is not strong enough to have the same effect on humans. The legs in the front are not strong enough to pierce human skin, so they don’t pose a threat to you. However, small children and the elderly may experience adverse reactions. For others, a bite from a centipede feels more like an ant bite or a bee sting.
If a centipede bites you, you may experience discomfort, itching, and pain at the site for a couple of days. If you have an allergic reaction, seek emergency care.
How to Prevent Centipedes
You don’t want a centipede showing up in your shower or scurrying across your floors. Try these prevention tips:
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Keep your doors and windows closed.
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Seal cracks and crevices around your home and your foundation.
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Remove yard debris from the perimeter of your home.
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Reduce moisture around your home.
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Get rid of the bugs they feed on.
It can be difficult to prevent or to get rid of centipedes because they hide in the dark areas of your home. If you have a wet basement, a leak in your home, or poor ventilation in your bathroom, you are attracting centipedes. You can maintain your home and prevent centipedes by dealing with the conditions that are drawing them into it in the first place. Centipedes feed on smaller insects in your home, so treating their food source with professional pest control services is a two-for-one. Call Adam’s Pest Control to get rid of centipedes and the pests they feed on in your home.
