Centipedes in Houston can be an issue for homeowners. It might seem like they appear around your house, but centipedes don’t have to be a permanent problem. All-Safe Pest and Termite’s Houston pest control services include centipede treatments. We work to keep centipedes out of your house for good.
How To Identify Centipedes
Like other pests, there can be a lot of variances between centipede species. Centipedes are known for their pairs of legs (anywhere from fifteen to nearly 200) and long, worm-like bodies. They can sometimes be confused with millipedes, which look similar. Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment, while millipedes have two. Centipedes are also much faster than millipedes.
There are four common types of centipedes in Houston. The giant red-headed centipede is the biggest, growing up to eight inches long. They have distinctive long, reddish-yellow, spiky antennae. House centipedes are brown and have long legs and antennae. They aren’t social pests, which means they’re usually found individually or in small numbers. Bark centipedes are reddish-brown with yellow legs. They can be seen living in trees, tree stumps, and leaf piles. The cryptopid centipede is also reddish-brown. They’re often found underneath logs and stones outside; when indoors, they’ll be in basements or other humid areas.
Will Centipedes Damage My Garden?
Most of the centipedes found in the Houston area are carnivorous, which means they eat insects instead of plants. They can benefit gardens since they eat insects and other pests that may be causing problems for plants. Some centipede species eat plants, which usually start at the roots and bases of stems—low to the ground.
But just because centipedes won’t hurt your plants doesn’t mean you want them running around your house.
How And Why Centipedes Find Their Way Into Your Home
Centipedes usually enter homes looking for food and shelter. They seek their ideal environments—warmth and high humidity—and good food sources. The best way to prevent centipedes is to make your home less hospitable to them.
- Take care of moisture issues
- Centipedes love wet and humid spaces. Areas of your home—such as basements and crawlspaces—where humidity builds up can attract centipedes. Making necessary repairs to pipes and fans or installing dehumidifiers can help keep your home clear of centipedes.
- Keep your yard clear of debris
- Leaf piles, logs, stones, lawn clippings, and tree stumps all make homes for centipedes. But clearing your yard as much as possible limits the places centipedes can hide.
- Seal cracks in the walls
- Cracks or holes in your walls and foundation can provide entry to centipedes. Taking time to inspect your house and fix any gaps removes the places centipedes can enter.
- Address other pest problems
Many centipede species in Houston eat insects. If they’re living around your home, there must be some food source keeping them there. Taking care of other pests in your home—such as cockroaches, crickets, and spiders—eliminates the food centipedes depend on.
Hopefully, these prevention tips keep centipedes away from your home. But if they show up anyway and you can’t get rid of them, call All-Safe Pest and Termite for treatment.
What’s The Best Way To Keep Centipedes Out Of My Home And Garden?
If you’re finding centipedes in your Houston home, All-Safe Pest and Termite is your best shot for getting rid of them for good. We offer affordable and effective treatment plans designed to keep pests from returning. You don’t need to have a big centipede problem—we’ll keep them away from your home. Contact All-Safe Pest and Termite today to learn more about our centipede control options.