How Dangerous Are Centipedes In Dallas?

A common sight in Dallas homes is the appearance of multi-legged, tan bugs stuck to walls and wedged in crevices. Those ugly bugs are called centipedes. But while they are certainly scary to look at, they aren't all that scary as bugs go. Here are a few things you should know about the common house centipede.

Identification

The house centipede, known scientifically as Scutigera coleoptrata, has 15 pairs of legs and is a mixture of tan, brown, and yellow. Its legs shoot out from its sides like the tines on a comb and the joints of its legs give them a crooked appearance. These visual characteristics make centipedes quite creepy. And with an average house centipede being around an inch long, these invertebrates are definitely unwelcome houseguests in Dallas.

Do House Centipede Bite?

While they can bite and they do have venom, they rarely bite. You don't have to worry about this species of centipede. In fact, they are a benefit to you and your family. House centipedes eat other bugs inside your home and they are considered a form of bioremediation. Unfortunately, they can't be counted on to completely rid your home of pests, and their random appearances can be unsettling. The better solution for pest control is to rely on a licensed pest control provider that uses eco-friendly pest control products and strategies—like the team here at All-Safe Pest & Termite.

Why Do I Have House Centipedes?

There are five reasons these bugs get inside Dallas homes and understanding them can help you to reduce centipede activity.

Outside Conditions — When conditions outside of your home are unfavorable, it can drive centipedes inside. They can be driven in by drought, heavy rains, cold and more.

Outside Populations — The more centipedes you have near your Dallas home, the more you'll have inside your home. If you want to see fewer centipedes inside your home, you need to remove attractants in your yard.

• Remove leaf piles.
• Move wood stacks away from your exterior.
• Reduce unnecessary yard clutter that centipede can hide under.
• Remove water resources and dampness.

Food — Centipedes go where the food is. If you have food options in your home, they will be active, and you'll see them hanging around, quite literally. Since they eat bugs, you can reduce centipedes by reducing bugs. You may not realize it, but it is a bug-eat-bug world inside your wall voids.

Moisture — Centipedes are drawn to a moist exterior, and when they get inside, they'll gravitate to areas that are high in humidity. Reducing humidity inside your home can make it resistant to centipede activity. Turn the fan on when you take a bath or shower. Refrain from leaving water sitting in a jetted tub. Add dehumidifiers to humid rooms.  

Entry Points — Centipedes and other bugs get into your home because they can. If you have entry points, they need to be sealed. Some common entry points that pests exploit are:

• Gaps under doors due to missing or damaged door sweeps
• Gaps around doors where weatherstripping has been chewed by rodents
• Holes in the wood frame around doors and windows
• Damaged seals on the outside windows and door frames
• Holes created by wood-destroying pests in wood that has been rotted by moisture damage

How Do I Get Rid Of Centipedes?

The best solution for centipedes is comprehensive pest control in your home. This is where we can help. At All-Safe Pest & Termite, we help you get control of the bug-eat-bug world inside your wall voids, attic spaces, basement, and other secluded parts of your home.

It begins with an inspection of your home and comprehensive interior and exterior pest service. This is like flipping a reset switch. Once the pests inside your home are under control, we help you maintain a pest-free living space all year long by applying exterior treatments that keep bugs, and the centipedes that love to eat them, on the outside of your home where they belong.