Surprisingly,  the Arizona centipede is actually not harmful to humans and can be helpful with controlling other bugs; but nobody wants to let them hang around long enough to reap the benefits. Learn more about these scary creepers and how to get them out of your home.

About Arizona House Centipedes

House centipedes are one to two-inch-long insects with 15 pairs of legs reaching out of their bodies. These legs can make them appear larger than they are, and they help the centipede to move at very fast speeds.

Being able to move quickly helps them to easily catch their prey, which are other household pests like bedbugs, silverfish, spiders, cockroaches, termites, and ants.

To kill their prey, these predators grab their target with their legs and mandibles and then inject them with venom produced by modified legs. The venom kills their prey, which they then are able to devour at their leisure.

House centipedes are surprisingly long-lived for an insect species. They can survive anywhere from three to seven years depending on their environment.

Because they have lived alongside humans for centuries, they are able to live their entire lives indoors, which usually lets them live the full length of seven years.

Why They’re Pests

Like so many insects, house centipedes are pests because they come into our homes uninvited and take up residency there, living out their lives and birthing young.

Their long lives allow them the ability to fill a home with more insects than it can manage. The fact that their appearance is so instinctively terrifying doesn’t help either.

Many homeowners call the exterminators because they can’t deal with the fright caused by coming across a creepy-crawly in the middle of the night.

Are They Dangerous?

Despite their genuinely alarming appearance, house centipedes are not generally dangerous to humans. Though they are venomous to other insects, their venomous legs are unable to pierce thick human skin. The worst they can do is bite, which leaves a small welt much like a bee sting. Bites are incredibly uncommon, though, so they are not something to worry about. Please remember, however, anyone who has anaphylactic allergies should ALWAYS be concerned about insect bites and/or venom.

More than anything, house centipedes can actually be a help to people. Because they gladly eat other household pests, they are able to both reduce and control a home’s pest population.

Of course, to actually achieve a true level of control, you’ll need to have countless centipedes feeding on insects in your house so this useful quality is outweighed in most homes.

Extermination and Control

While house centipedes certainly have their uses in pest control, they themselves are still pests, and they should be treated as such.

Instead of suffering from nightly terrors caused by these many-legged insects, call out a professional extermination team to take care of both your centipedes and the bugs they’ve been feeding on.

Naturally, this is in all probability not very comforting to you, as you emphatically need these terrible house centipedes moved out right this minute.

So how can a person start the process of taking out house centipedes just about instantly, and minus the fear of them someday visiting you once more? Better consult a centipede Arizona pest control company to let you know exactly what to do.

Could it be that there’s a better way out?

The best answer is a great deal safer and comes with a complete plethora of additional benefits. The genuine solution rests in a couple of pretty common-sense actions:

1) Render your quarters uncomfortable to them, and

2) Eliminate their food reserve.

This is actually a great deal uncomplicated than you may initially think.

Centipedes love wet, clammy areas By merely performing a small number of simple alterations all over your house, in the house centipede “hot spots,” including the clothes washing room, toilet, kitchen, basement, and wood stocking places, you will be taking a step toward eliminating your house centipede swarm very quickly.

Are you aware of what house centipedes generally eat? They are insectivores, meaning that bugs, larva, and spiders are the standard food options for these wicked little insects.

What To Do With A Centipede Bite

The symptoms of a house centipede bite are important to recognize but it’s also crucial to recognize the symptoms of a centipede bite, and here are some facts to clear up a simple misconception.

Centipedes bites don’t really hurt, in fact, most centipedes would be unable to bite through your skin.

Centipedes’ back end, however, has a stinger. This stinger injects venom into its prey, or whatever it stings. The symptoms are usually mild, but there have been cases where they could be dangerous.

These are rare, and you can rest assured house centipedes won’t pose a threat to your health.

Most of the time it hurts far less than a bee sting, and if it hurts too much it is helpful to take an aspirin or two. There might be two raised bumps, surrounded by very red irritated skin. There might also be some swelling. If there is swelling, apply a cold pack to reduce. If there is only pain, a heat pack would better suffice.

If the centipede bite is itching, apply an anti-itch cream like Hydrocortisone. Wash the area with soap and water, you don’t want any infection.

Just to be on the safe side, most house centipede stings probably won’t be felt by you. However, if you wake up with any of the symptoms of a centipede bite described above and you know there are house centipedes around, you should take care of yourself.

Also, remember if your ever unsure of where the bite came from, it is better to seek medical attention from a doctor

By making a few additional household adjustments, for instance, correct waste and food etiquette and specific climate management exercises, you are certain to complete the challenge and dispose of those house centipedes extremely fast.

Centipedes are very creepy creatures. Their length is in the range of 1 to 8 inches. Centipedes start with a few pairs of legs and they increase with each new segment. Centipedes are found worldwide. They thrive in damp, dark places and climates that are wet but can also be found in arid areas and deserts.

In the United States centipedes inhabit a wide range of habitats including urban areas, deserts and swamplands. Around the home, they can be found in floor drains, crawl spaces and basements.

Outside they will be in potted plants, under rocks, rotten logs and in gardens. They also survive underwater.

How do centipedes bite

Centipedes do not actually bite. They puncture the skin by scratching with their clawed pointy hollow legs located right behind their heads. They use these hollow  legs to inject venom.

When centipedes sting and inject venom, they leave two puncture marks in the skin. The area surrounding the bite will become inflamed and red. The bigger the centipede is, the higher the volume of venom injected and the more intense the pain. Smaller centipedes inject very little venom and the pain of the sting can be compared to a bee sting.

Symptoms of centipede bite

Symptoms of a centipede sting are inflammation, pain and redness in the skin around the sting site. The symptoms can last hours to several days.

If you are allergic to centipede venom, you may experience symptoms including, fever, nausea, swollen lymph nodes, chills, itching, heart palpitations and extreme swelling at the sting site. If you experience any or a mix of these severe reactions see a doctor.

Because centipede bites may have similarities to bites from more dangerous insects, if you are unsure what bit you get yourself to a doctor, more so if you are experiencing severe symptoms.

Treatment of centipede sting

In the absence of complications, centipede sting treatment focuses on alleviation of the symptoms and can be done at home by observing the following:

1. Apply hot compress on the sting site. This dilutes the venom.
2. To reduce the inflammation apply an ice compress to the wound.
3. Use medication under the guidance of a pharmacist to reduce allergic reaction, pain and swelling. Apply a topical antibiotic to the wound to avoid infection. Keep the sting site clean and cover it up.
4. If your symptoms do not abate in a few days you will need to call the doctor.

Complications as a result of centipede stings are because of  skin and tissue damage at the sting site. You will probably be given a tetanus shot and antibiotics by your doctor if infection has occurred.

If red streaks appear near the wound or it is emitting a bad odor inform your doctor quickly.

If you suffer severe allergic reactions such as hives, dizziness, and swelling of the lips, tongue and throat call emergency services immediately.

Conclusion

Centipede stings, although quite painful, hardly ever result in severe health problems in people. At home treatments work quite well at alleviating pain  and symptoms.

The scientific name for giant desert centipede is Scolopendra heros. They are also known as the Texas redhead centipede. On average, they are about 6.5 inches in length but some can be up to 9 inches long. Although color variations are common, the head along with the first two body segments have various shades of red while the rest of the segments are black with traces of green. The giant desert centipedes have 20 pairs of yellow legs. They also have a set of black rear legs which they use to grasp, hold prey and inject them with venom. On each side of the head, there have four individual ocelli.

Habitat

The giant desert centipede typically enjoys staying outside in protected areas mostly on rotten logs or under stones. They are commonly found in rocky woodlands where it’s easy to find moisture to keep their bodies cool. During the high temperatures in summer, these pests escape the intolerable heat and enter homes and buildings. These pests have been located in places like Arkansas, Louisiana, Southern Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Northern Mexico, and Texas.

Are Giant Desert Centipedes Dangerous?

Although the giant desert centipedes have a relatively huge size and frightening look, their nuisance comes from their defense mechanisms. They secrete and inject venom through pincers which are modified legs found on their body. When these pincers inject venom, it causes pain for someone who has been stung. When bitten, some people may experience symptoms like nausea, headache, vomiting or allergic reactions.

Infestation

Given that these pests spend little time in the open, it is rare to spot them in large numbers. However, you can find a few of them in a garden or a basement, which may signal that more could be present within the area.

Feeding

The giant desert centipedes preys on small insects and arthropods just like other centipedes.They have an exceptional body that allows them to hunt and feed on larger organisms such as:

• Small snakes
• Toads and frogs
• Other vertebrates

They use their pincers and venom to subdue their prey before consuming them. When placed under captivity, giant desert centipedes can exclusively rely on moths.

They have a lifespan of between one and six years although their longevity depends on several factors.

Reproduction

A giant female desert centipede has the ability to lay about 15 to 60 eggs during summer. These eggs are commonly found between cavities of rotten wood. Mothers have to closely watch their eggs to protect them against predators and the growth of fungus. The eggs hatch after about two months, producing offspring that are similar to smaller versions of their parents.

How to Prevent Giant Desert Centipede

To control or prevent giant desert centipedes, a combination of chemical treatments and exclusion techniques are necessary. Such tactics include:

• Eliminating their habitats in your home by getting rid of firewood, compost piles, and tree logs.
• Substituting moisture-prone mulch for stone or gravel.
• Thoroughly ventilate crawl spaces and other moist areas to diminish humidity
• Seal foundation gaps and cracks
• Fix damaged weather stripping

Conclusion

Giant desert centipedes are not dangerous despite their large size and their scary appearance. Their defense mechanism makes them appear hazardous. Symptoms from their bites are mild and may include nausea, vomiting, headache, and allergic reactions. The pests, which enjoy inhabiting moist places, can be controlled using chemical treatments and exclusion techniques. If you feel overwhelmed with the presence of this creature. Call your local pest controller for effective extermination.

HOW TO GET RID OF HOUSE CENTIPEDES

There are over 2000 centipede species worldwide. The house centipede is greyish – yellow with a slender flatish body.  It has fifteen pairs of legs with a pair attached to each segment.  Protruding from its rear tip are two long appendages and on its head two rather long antennae.

The two legs near the mouth carry venom. This is what they use to sting prey such as termites and Firebrats. These appendages on both ends confuse and deter predators because they find it difficult knowing which end is the back and which one is the head. The centipedes legs are not only for mobility, they can hold multiple prey using their legs. If any of their legs get stuck or caught on something they just pull them off and scuttle away.

House centipedes multitude of legs are not for show. They are very fast covering 1.3 feet within a second enabling them to overtake and grab their prey easily and on the other hand quickly escape from predators.

House  centipedes are ferocious hunters going after prey that could pose a danger to them, sneaking up on them and stinging. Then sitting back and letting the venom work before feeding. They are mostly nocturnal hunters. They use their long extremely sensitive antennae to feel vibration and smell out potential prey. They are sensitive to light so during the day they hide in dark moist areas. In the home you’ll find them in bathrooms and basements.

House centipedes are not dangerous to people. They would  rather not waste their venom on humans unless provoked.

During winter they will get into homes looking for warmth and food. Being rather narrow and  small the house centipede will get in to the home through cracks in the walls, under doors, through damaged windows, striping and where utility pipes access the wall of the house.

Keeping  centipedes out of your home

Set sticky traps placing them in areas that habour centipedes. Such as basements, under the sink and in bathrooms.

Remove all the clutter that can offer  centipedes a hiding place.

Use a vacuum cleaner  to rip the centipedes from their hiding place.

Dry out wet areas in your house. Without moisture centipedes can’t survive. Clean up damp areas and dehumidify them.

Put boric acid on pieces of paper and place them in high centipede traffic areas.

Spread silica packets in damp places around the home. This absorbs the moisture from both the ground and air.

Put compost bins, firewood and mulch away from the wall of the house and it’s perimeter.

Seal off all entry points including crevices in concrete foundations and gaps around windows and doors.

Seal gaps between walls with caulk.

Lay down a   barrier of water resistant insecticide dust all around your house. Centipedes come from outside to enter your home and they will have to cross the insecticide barrier.

Get rid of all the pests that centipedes prey on. Without food they will leave or face starvation.

Conclusion

In as Much as centipedes are harmless to humans you don’t want them crawling all over the house.

There are over 11000 documented species of millipedes globally. Millipedes have a rounded body with visible segments. They are black to reddish brown in color. They have legs attached on the underbelly of all the body segments except the first and last segments. They don’t move fast although they have many legs. They like living in damp dark places such as under rotting wood, rocks, deritus and leaves.

Millipedes don’t bite

Millipedes are not a threat to people. They are detritivores, this means they feed on rotting organic matter. They are found all over the world. The biggest more toxic species inhabit south pacific and the Caribbean. The larger the millipede is the higher the volume of toxins it emits. When the weather gets really hot millipedes will look for cool dark damp places and may wander into your home while doing so. They don’t cause any damage to your house and if you happen to find one in your home just sweep it outside using a broom. It is as simple as that.

When threatened Millipedes coil up in a ball to defend themselves but they don’t bite.

To fight against predators such as spiders and ants, millipedes emit a toxic fluid from their glands. Some larger species can spray toxins about three feet away if under threat. This toxin consists of hydrogen cyanide and hydrochloric acid which cause asphyxiation and burning effects on its predators. Millipedes emit this toxin in small amounts that are harmless to humans. In large amounts they are harmful to people.

If you touch a millipede coiled in defense when you put it down, your hand will have brown smear which will leave a stain even after being washed.

Though the emission from millipedes isn’t toxic to humans, there are people who are sensitive to it and even suffer allergies from it. These allergies present as redness, rash, itching, burning, and hives.

If you have come into contact with a millipede clean your skin using antibiotic soap and water, even if there is no toxin visible on you. This is just to take precautions to avoid potential allergic reaction.

If hives pop up on your skin after handling millipedes, thoroughly clean your skin with soap and tepid water. Apply oatmeal as a salve to soothe the hives.

Don’t touch your eyes before properly washing your hands if you have been in contact with Millipedes. If the toxins get into your eyes they could be corrosive to the eye tissues.

Though rare if you experience these severe allergic reactions to millipedes you should see a doctor quickly.

• difficulty breathing
• Facial swelling
• Rapid heart rate
• Rashes all over the body

Keep Millipedes outside the house

Make sure your home is dry. Since millipedes like moist environments when they are denied moisture they die quickly. So keeping a dry home is a good way to deter them.

Seal all possible entry points like window edges, cracks and crevices in the walls.

Replace the weather stripping around doors and windows.

Conclusion

Though millipedes don’t bite their toxins can cause skin irritation when handled.

Anyone would cringe at the thought of centipedes, let alone have one dart out of a dark corner in the house to your feet. But these multi-legged creatures are as fascinating as studying alien beings from a foreign world. They are part of the invertebrate class and play a crucial role in sustaining the diet of many small vertebrae.

Other species give birth to live ones. The male deposits a spermatophore and leaves it for the female to find or coaxes it to ingest the sperm through courtship. The female lays an average of 10-50 eggs, in a single fashion. A female centipede can produce close to 160 baby centipedes within her life span. Despite their unsettling nature, female centipedes are exceptionally good mothers. They will tend to their eggs and hatchlings, curling around them for protection from potential prey. They’ll also lick the eggs to keep off fungi. Once disturbed or threatened, the female will eat the eggs or abandon them, leaving them vulnerable.

Like their parents, a centipede’s coloration is a warm mixture of brown and red. Those found within caves and subterranean habitats lack pigmentation due to less exposure to sunlight. They cover a large geographical region, from the tropics and arid areas to colder climate, surviving in the harshest conditions. The scientific names are a mouthful, but are gracefully swapped for generic terms. Centipedes are grouped into four major classes extensively studied; House, Stone, Tropical and Soil centipedes.

FOOD

Centipedes are carnivorous in nature and are among the largest terrestrial invertebrate predators. They have a spread-out diet, as they have a variety of different available prey. House, stone and soil centipedes are smaller in size and will feed on insects, small earthworms, molluscs and annelids. The larger centipedes that dwell in tropical regions and caves feed on equally large prey like bats, birds and mice. Most centipedes have poor eyesight or are literally blind. They detect movement through vibrations. The front pair of legs act as pincer-like limbs called forcipules that inject venom in their prey. Their antennae point backwards. They curl around it as the venom takes effect. This said, not much is known of their feeding habits due to their seclusive lifestyles

FUN FACTS

Quite contrary to their name, centipedes do not have a complete set of legs totalling to 100. An adult always has an odd number of segments, from 15 to as many as 191 in the larger species. Thus the leg number will always be odd. They take 1-3 years to reach maturity, ranging from a few milimeteres to 14 inches. That’s the size of a 30 cm ruler. They’re excellent house cleaners, avoiding human contact unless by accident, preying on unseen spiders, cockroaches and other house pests.

Surprisingly, people rear centipedes, as pets or delicacies served in restaurants and sold in open air markets in Asian countries. Though not fatal, their bites are usually painful, causing severe swelling, chills, partial paralysis, not to mention the horror of being bitten by an actual centipede. Next time you spot one in the house, don’t grab the nearest shoe. Gently guide it out.

Most insects such as centipedes aren’t necessarily gifted with the cuddly good looks that most humans seem to prefer. So, how to get rid of centipedes?

Many people find them creepy and scary which is perhaps the number one reason for this seeming animosity. Some people just hate bugs because they scare the bejeezus out of them.

Not many people know this but it is actually quite easy to protect your home from any severe bug infestation. Like all things in life, all it takes is knowledge.

Insects choose to live under your roof because they find it necessary for their survival. Understanding this is already a huge step in the quest to rid your home of these often uninvited guests.

As a matter of fact, the key to defeating any bug infestation is to know the enemy (the bugs in this case). Learning why they find the conditions in your home suitable for their way of life is one of the most important steps.

You will need to do your due diligence and perform some research on facts.

For example, many insect or bug species like their air humid and wet because it is their main source of water. This is the reason why you do not see a lot of house pests out in the sun.

They like the areas in your house where they can have this condition and if we’re talking about moisture and humidity then the bathroom and basement cannot be beaten.

Now, do you see why the frightful encounters happen frequently in these parts of the house?

Pest control for homes is actually an industry in itself and you can go for professional services that offer pest control solutions or you could use existing pest control products suitable for DIY applications.

However, whatever you choose, whether you go for professional services or do it by yourself, you will need to do your due diligence first so you can be sure that the option you take is indeed the one most suitable for your situation.

For example, if you are thinking of going for the chemical extermination option that is usually administered professionally, then you will need to evaluate the safety of this method is.

This is especially crucial if you have children and animal pets living with you in the house. DIY methods are good for those who like to take charge and face the problems themselves.

However, you will need to make sure that the methods you use are proven methods as there are a lot of bogus products out there that are akin to patch jobs or band-aids that do not really do anything to address the cause of pest problems.

Whatever method you choose to help you get rid of house insects and pests, just be sure that you do a little research so you can be sure that it’s the most suitable option for you.

Millipedes are worm like looking creatures but are characterized by the many legs they have. It is that feature that has rightly earned the millipede a nick name as the ‘thousand legger’. Millipedes belong to the animal class of Arthropods and grow as long as 2.5 cm to 4cm.

This insect can appear as brown in color while other millipedes may have a jet black color on the top while their legs have a pinkish hue and their under belly is white.

Millipedes habitat

Millipedes prefer moist and cool environments with least disturbance. Some of their favorite habitats will often include, under rocks, rotting wood, foundations, compost heap, mulch, flower beds and in piles of leaves on the ground.

Millipedes will often be forced to look for shelter inside your home when the conditions outside become untenable. When it rains too much and the grounds outside are soaked. Millipedes have no option but to seek shelter in a house with more favorable conditions. During hot weather, this arthropod will seek cooler shelter and water. You house is often a perfect option as they can easily crawl under the door or get through an open window. Cracks and crevices on the floor and wall that lead into the house are often good ways for the millipede to gain access to your home.

Whenever you see a millipede in the home, it is often in the bathroom, laundry area or crawl spaces. Once a millipede finds access into your home, it will try and locate it’s comfort spots which is any damp or moist spaces as mentioned above.

An effective way to get rid of the millipede once it enters your home is to simply kill it by stomping on it with a shoe or vacuuming it.

Although the creature is not harmful in any way, some people just find it creepy and would not want to see it crawling around in the house.

Preventative measures against millipedes

Taking measures to prevent millipedes from infesting your yard and sealing all possible entry points is a good place to start.

1. Some areas of the home are more prone to cracks and can be an entry point for bugs. Sealing all cracks around the foundation, plumbing and wiring will ensure that creepy crawlies such as millipedes and other bugs do not gain entry to your home.
2. Leaky faucets, water pipes, and air conditioning units should be repaired as they can become an attraction for bugs such as millipedes
3. Sealing any expansion joints where patios, sunrooms, and sidewalks are next to your foundation is called for. That is because they discourage millipedes as well as other bugs from making their way into your house.
4. Maintain a clean and uncluttered yard by removing dead plant matter and piles of leaves as well as mulch.
5. Watering the lawn should not be overdone. It is also better to water in the morning as opposed to night so that the grass has time to sun dry before nightfall. Ensuring that your sprinklers are well adjusted such as to minimize pooling will also help in keeping your lawn dry and minimizing millipedes.

Conclusion

Such preventative measures as mentioned above, help in not making the environment suitable for a millipede infestation. However, should you feel that your home is getting overrun by millipedes, get in touch with a licensed pest controller for help in getting rid of them from your compound.

The household centipede is an arthropod (family of insects that have jointed bodies) that is said to have originated from the Mediterranean region and just somehow found its way into other parts of the world. They are common in the northern part of the US, in Asia and Europe and have made quite a reputation in multitudes of homes.

Generally, centipedes do not pose any harm or threat to humans. They are equipped with mandibles that could theoretically bite humans, but it is considered not strong enough to do any significant damage.

They do have stings which are the main weapon that they use on their prey. They are insectivores that eat fellow insects so it’s no wonder that some folks would find them favorable and would think that their presence in homes should be a welcome sign.

However, if you think about it, the fact that they are hanging out inside your home indicates that you have bigger problems aside from a house centipede infestation.

The fact that they are inside your home means they are finding their main diet in it and that you have other bug issues to deal with if you want to get rid of house centipedes.

The good news is that house pests can actually be driven away from your home systematically.

No, it will not purely involve spraying insecticides and pesticides (which are actually quite ineffective if you want a long-term solution) but will involve a step-by-step process that will attack the different aspects of why and how they find your home a suitable habitat for their survival.

Things like what kind of sustenance they find in your home and how you can change the conditions in your home such that they will find it difficult to access those food sources.

When you have dealt with their food sources, the next thing you need to do is stop more bugs from getting into your home. That will mean examining your house’s entire exterior and plugging holes and gaps that outdoor bugs can use to gain entry into your home.

Then you will need to eradicate the ones that are inside your house which means applying a chemical but will not focus on bug sprays.

Getting rid of house centipedes is a multi-faceted process that deals with the different factors of why they are inside your house in the first place. The tips mentioned beforehand should point you in the right direction.

Having insects and pests, especially centipede inside your house is something that we all have to deal with sooner or later.

Us, as homeowners, have this primordial fear of anything that crawls on the walls or on the ground.

Let’s face it, they aren’t exactly creatures that are utterly friendly and pleasant. With them around the house, frightful encounters are sure to happen on a regular basis, which is why we need pest control.