A bite from a centipede doesn’t involve the arthropod using its mouthparts to inflict the bite. It usually means the centipede has utilized its clawed point legs situated at the front of its body to puncture your skin. All centipedes bite.

Centipede venom

The caliber of venom depends on the size and species of the centipede. The smaller centipedes do not have too much venom to inject into your system so their bites are probably not as painful. But a large enough centipede can release venom into the bite that will cause excruciating pain for a couple of hours and even days.

When the centipede traps your skin between its claws it reflexively squeezes the muscles around the claw which also contain the poison gland. Once the gland is squeezed it releases the toxic venom into the claws ducts and straight into your skin. The modified pair of legs that appear claw like are known as maxillipeds so the bigger they are the more capable they are to piece skin.

The venom produced by centipedes is not fatal to human beings regardless of how large the centipede is. However, the bite is fatal to other insects to which a centipede is a predator. The worst symptoms experienced from a centipede bite include nausea, vomiting and fever.

A centipede’s bite produces a variety of toxins that include serotonin, histamine, and a cardio-depressant known as toxin-S. These will respond to anti-histamines and hydrocortisone creams to soothe the pain, swelling and the localized irritation. Centipede venom can also cause anaphylactic episodes much like the bee and wasp stings.

Where do you find centipede

Centipedes are outdoor creatures although there are some species that can be found indoors. The outdoor species can be found under rocks, tree barks, mulch, stones and other areas that are damp. When these areas are near the house the centipedes will find their way indoors increasing the chances of a bite.

In addition, centipedes being the predators that they are feed on cockroaches and spiders which lure them inside. They are also attracted to the warmth and safe nooks and crannies within the floor boards and drains. Centipede move fast and they can cover 16 inches per second so once they bite you they will run away as fast as they can.

Effective treatment for centipede bites

Once you have bitten you should clean the bitten area with water and soap immediately. Make sure to wash the wound at least twice to get rid of the venom. An anaphylactic shock episode typically occurs after a few minutes of the bite so if you start to notice symptoms put pressure on the bite and head to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.

To continue with the first aid place a hot compress on the bite site to reduce the pain and swelling. You can alternate between a hot and cold compress. Take some over the counter pain medication to alleviate the pain. We recommended using any other medication at the doctor’s direction.

A bite from a centipede doesn’t involve the arthropod using its mouthparts to inflict the bite. It usually means the centipede has utilized its clawed point legs situated at the front of its body to puncture your skin. All centipedes bite.

Centipede venom

The caliber of venom depends on the size and species of the centipede. The smaller centipedes do not have too much venom to inject into your system so their bites are probably not as painful. But a large enough centipede can release venom into the bite that will cause excruciating pain for a couple of hours and even days.

When the centipede traps your skin between its claws it reflexively squeezes the muscles around the claw which also contain the poison gland. Once the gland is squeezed it releases the toxic venom into the claws ducts and straight into your skin. The modified pair of legs that appear claw like are known as maxillipeds so the bigger they are the more capable they are to piece skin.

The venom produced by centipedes is not fatal to human beings regardless of how large the centipede is. However, the bite is fatal to other insects to which a centipede is a predator. The worst symptoms experienced from a centipede bite include nausea, vomiting and fever.

A centipede’s bite produces a variety of toxins that include serotonin, histamine, and a cardio-depressant known as toxin-S. These will respond to anti-histamines and hydrocortisone creams to soothe the pain, swelling and the localized irritation. Centipede venom can also cause anaphylactic episodes much like the bee and wasp stings.

Where do you find centipede

Centipedes are outdoor creatures although there are some species that can be found indoors. The outdoor species can be found under rocks, tree barks, mulch, stones and other areas that are damp. When these areas are near the house the centipedes will find their way indoors increasing the chances of a bite.

In addition, centipedes being the predators that they are feed on cockroaches and spiders which lure them inside. They are also attracted to the warmth and safe nooks and crannies within the floor boards and drains. Centipede move fast and they can cover 16 inches per second so once they bite you they will run away as fast as they can.

Effective treatment for centipede bites

Once you have bitten you should clean the bitten area with water and soap immediately. Make sure to wash the wound at least twice to get rid of the venom. An anaphylactic shock episode typically occurs after a few minutes of the bite so if you start to notice symptoms put pressure on the bite and head to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.

To continue with the first aid place a hot compress on the bite site to reduce the pain and swelling. You can alternate between a hot and cold compress. Take some over the counter pain medication to alleviate the pain. We recommended using any other medication at the doctor’s direction.

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 Centipedes Are Viewed As Pests

Like so many insects, house centipedes are pests because they come into our homes uninvited and take up residence 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 Centipedes Poisonous?

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.

Centipede 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.

Your pest control experts may have tips for you so that you can exclude future bugs from making their way into your home and setting up shop, so be sure to ask if they have any thoughts on exclusion. Your home will be pest-free in no time.

Fruit flies are harmless but they are nuisance.  That may in fact be their only crime but that dooms them to death. It may sound callous and cold but if you have experienced the irritation of these little flies your empathy may be short lived.

They breed and live in the garbage cans, damp rags and mops and can even be found in drains. They are yellow in color with distinct red eyes. These flies lay their eggs near the surface of food that is fermenting. They love ripened fruits and moist vegetables so you will find them mostly in your kitchen. Fruit flies reproduce quickly and can soon become a full on infestation if not dealt with. Each female fruit fly lays hundreds of eggs on your fruit and other surfaces.

Seeing fruit flies in your bathroom, bedroom and even living room should not come as a surprise. Anywhere they find a damp, conducive environment for reproducing fruit flies will indiscriminately breed.

The Fruit Fly Trap

A fruit fly trap is the ultimate solution to getting rid of these pesky bugs. It traps the flies preventing them from flying and eventually they die in the trap. You can buy fruit fly traps from Amazon and the local pesticide store but before going commercial try out these home-made traps and save some money. Keep in mind that commercial fruit fly traps use the same ingredients you will use in your home-made trap.

Old farmer almanac trap

Boil a half a glass of milk with a half cup of sugar and quarter cup of raw pepper. The combination gives off a semi fermented scent that will attract fruit flies to it. Let the mixture cool and pour into a bowl. The fruit flies will settle into it for a drink but the strong scent and flavor of pepper will choke them to death.

White vinegar trap

Vinegar attracts fruit flies because of its fermentation. They can’t resist the scent of naturally acidic smell of broken down material. The little flies will fly right into a jar of open vinegar and drown s they ry to consume it.

Pour a quarter cup full of vinegar in a jar and cover with clear plastic wrap. Poke a few holes into the plastic cover to let the scent waft out. Then poke another larger hole on the wrap that the flies will enter through to get to the vinegar.

As the flies start to flock to the vinegar, add some dish washing soap to the vinegar that will keep the flies stuck to the solution. They will dip into the vinegar for a drink but won’t be able to leave eventually dying inside the jar.

Apple cider vinegar trap

Apple cider vinegar has two favorite components of a fruit fly meal: the scent of fruit and the scent of acidity. You can follow the same process as the white vinegar solution above just interchange the white vinegar for apple cider. You may find apple cider to be even more effective than white vinegar.

Fruit peel jar

Fruit flies love fruits right? Then give them some in vary controlled environment one which they cannot leave once they fly in. A, jar or plastic container will work. So put the peels in the jar and close the hole using a plastic wrap with holes poked into it and a small opening. The flies will enter and never leave.

Centipedes are definitely one of the scarier looking pests out there for many homeowners. They’re commonly brownish or reddish in color, though other species can be in a multitude of other colors including yellow and white.

Their flat, elongated bodies are segmented, with each segment having a pair of legs, and they can have anywhere from 15 to over a hundred pairs of legs. They’re very fast and can travel 1.3 feet per second, and can even run up walls and furniture. They have claws and use venom to paralyze prey.

The great thing about centipedes though, is they only rarely bite humans. In fact, they’ll do their best to stay clear of you, and only bite you in self-defense.

Centipedes can be very beneficial in your home. They’re nocturnal creatures, and spend the night hunting more problematic pests like cockroaches, termites, silverfish, and even spiders. They don’t damage your home like termites do, contaminate your food like cockroaches, nor do they spread diseases like rodents.
If you do want to get rid of them though, or think you have one too many in your house, there are a few, easy steps you can follow.

1. Close off pest entry points in to your house – that is, repair or install window screens, especially for any outside vent. Install weatherstripping, and make sure drains and pipes are properly sealed. Use caulk on cracks found on walls and around pipes. This prevents centipedes and other bugs from getting in to your home, which helps in the 2nd step.
2. Get rid of their food sources. As mentioned earlier, centipedes prey on other pests, so making sure you have as less pests as possible in your house for them to feed on, will make them want to look for greener pastures.
3. Run a humidifier, especially in your basement. This lessens damp and mold, and makes the area less appealing for many pests.
4. Get rid of as many hiding places as possible, including old cardboard boxes, trash, compost piles and rocks.
5. Of course, spray insecticide on any you find, and for good measure, spray on hard-to-reach areas you think may harbor pests.

If you follow these and still regularly find centipedes (and other pests) in your home, get in touch with a pest control services company and have a professional come out to look.