Centipedes belong to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda that also includes millipedes. They are predatory arthropods. Centipedes have one pair of legs per segment and they are metameric creatures. Most of the centipedes are usually poisonous and can give a painful bite through forcipules, pincer-like appendages. Though the name suggests 100 legs, the number varies from 30 to 354 depending upon the species.
Centipedes are carnivorous and their size varies from a few cm. in smaller species to 30 cm. in larger species. They can be observed in a wide range of environments, they are even found on Arctic Circle. Their color mostly is red or brown. Worldwide, there are around 8,000 species of centipedes in existence. The total described species is 3,000.
Centipedes have a flattened or rounded head, a pair of antennae, two pairs of maxillae, and a pair of long mandibles. Many species of centipedes do not have eyes but some have ocelli, compound eyes, which can only identify light and dark and not a true vision. Forcipules can be found only in centipedes that are modifications of the first pair of legs.
Types of centipedes –
- Tiger Centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha) – Tiger centipede can be up to the length of 15 cm. or more. They can be seen in many colors like yellow, orange, brown, black, green, and blue on their exoskeleton. They occasionally bite but are not aggressive. The bite can be painful though not dangerous to humans.
They prefer an arid environment and feed on insects. It is also called Common Desert Centipede.
- House Centipede – Centipedes prefer to live outside but house centipedes’ species can live their full life in buildings. They are very common in California. They prefer a dark and damp area like closets in the house. They, sometimes, lay their eggs inside the house. They have long legs and they are not aggressive but they may bite.
Since they feed on other insects, they help to reduce pests in the house and are thought to be beneficial. They can move quickly over the surfaces and walls.
- Soil Centipede – Soilcentipedes are long and have 27 or more legs. They cannot bite humans and injects humans because of a lack of that ability. They burrow in soil and feed on insect larvae. They lay their eggs in soil or rotten wood and lay 15 to 60 eggs at a time.
Soil centipedes are of 2,000 different varieties.
- Stone Centipedes – They are called lithobimorpha and are the oldest centipede species in the world. They can be seen widely across the world. They live under rocks and logs and have 15 pairs of legs.
- Scolopendra Subspinipes – These are also known by the names Vietnamese centipede, orange-legged jungle centipede, Chinese red-headed centipede, giant centipede, Asian forest centipede, and many others.
Vietnamese centipede can be seen in the house and are largest of about 20 cm. It can cause a very painful bite and its venom can lead to induration, erythema, and necrosis.
- Mecistocephalus Maxillaries – It will have a length of less than 40 mm. and yellow with a red head but it not like a Chinese red head centipede.
- Giant Desert Centipede – This centipede is much longer than the common desert centipede, of about 6-8 inches. They have rust or orange bodies, yellowish legs, and dark black or bluish heads. The last pair of legs is modified to look like antennae on its head.
Their stings can be extremely painful; however, some people keep them as pets.
- Scolopendra Cataracta – This giant centipede was discovered recently. As of now, only four has been discovered whose venom will give you a lot of pain.
Since this creature is amphibious, it can hunt both in water and on land, therefore, it becomes more dangerous. This is found mostly in Laos.
Scolopendra Galapagoensis – This creature is known to be mentioned by Darwin in his research. It is also known as Darwin’s Goliath Centipede.
They possess large poisonous mandibles with which they prey and they grow up to more than 30 cm. It has to stay in humid conditions as the tracheal chambers of their large brain releases a lot of water while breathing.
Most of the centipedes are nocturnal and known to feed on spiders, flies, and plant tissues. They can be observed mostly in moist areas like below stones, logs, piles of trash, etc. Indoors one can find them in bathrooms, potted plants, damp basements, and crawlspaces.
What Is the Life-Cycle of the Centipedes?
Copulation is not a process of centipede reproduction. Males deposit a spermatophore in a web for the female to take up, who then exhibits a courtship dance, so, that the female engulf it. In some cases, they just leave sperm for a female to find it out. Egg-laying occurs in spring and summer in temperate areas whereas, in tropical and subtropical areas, little seasonality in breeding occurs.
In species Lithobiomorpha and Scutigeromorpha, the females lay eggs singly in the soil and then, cover it with the soil and leaves the place. Usually, 10 to 50 eggs are laid at a time. The development time between embryo to hatching varies a lot and can go up to one month to a few months.
Thus, the time for reproduction also varies from species to species and can be between 1 year to 3 years. The basic difference between insects and centipedes is the life span. Where insects can live up for too short a period, the centipedes live for 5 (lithobius forticatus) to 10 years (Scolopendra Subspinipes). In some species like Geophilomorpha and Scolopendromorpha, the parental care is evident as the female does not leave the laid eggs alone and cares for guards, and cleans them from fungi. In some species, the female stays with them till they are ready to be alone. However, if there is some threat or disturbance, the female either abandons or eats up the eggs.
How Did the Centipedes Evolve?
The commonly known five orders of centipedes are Geophilomorpha, Scolopendromorpha, Craterostigmomorpha, Lithobiomorpha, and Scutigeromorpha. As per the fossil record, centipedes date as back as 430 million years. They are from the subphylum Myriapoda which includes Pauropoda, Diplopoda, and Symphyla.
One of the Myriapod, Pneumodemus newmani, is the oldest known fossil land animal. The orders of centipedes are combined into the clade Chilopoda by the following synapomorphies –
- The first postcephalic appendage is modified to venom claws.
- The trochanter-prefumer joint is fixed.
- The embryonic cuticle on the second maxilliped has an egg tooth.
- A spiral ridge occurs on the nucleus of the spermatozoon.
What Are the Families and Order of the Centipedes?
- Scutigeromorpha –
- They are anamorphic with 15 leg-bearing segments.
- They are commonly known as house centipedes.
- Fast in moving and can withstand great speed during falling (15 body lengths per second).
- Only this species retain their original compound eyes.
- This is the only representative of the Notostigmorpha (single spiracle opening at the posterior of each dorsal plate).
- There are three families – Scutigerinidae, Pselliodidae, and Scutigeridae.
- Lithobiomorpha –
- They are known as stone centipedes.
- They have a mature segment count of 15 trunk segments.
- They lose compound eyes and may not even have eyes at all.
- Their spiracles are paired and lateral.
- Every leg-bearing segment has a separate tergite.
- They have relatively short antennae and legs than Scutigeromorpha.
- Families are Henicopidae and Lithobiidae.
- Craterostigmomorpha –
- They are the least diverse centipede clade with only two extant species.
- They are found only in Tasmania and New Zealand.
- They represent the survivors of a once diverse clade.
- Their traits are closely linked with the presence of sterna pores which secrete to repel predators.
- Scolopendromorpha –
- They are known as tropical centipedes and have 21 to 23 body segments.
- The eyes have a fixed number of four ocelli on each side in Scolopendridae and on one side in Mimops while other families are blind.
- Families are Scolopendridae, Cryptopidae, Mimopidae, Scolopocryptopidae, and Plutoniumidae.
- Geophilomorpha –
- They are commonly known as soil centipedes.
- They have 27 leg-bearing segments with spiracles on all leg-bearing segments.
- They are as diverse as 1260 species and are the largest and leggiest specimens.
- Families are Zelanophilidae, Gonibergmatidae, Oryidae, Mecistocephalidae, Geophilidae, Himantariidae, and Scendylidae.
How to Get Rid of Indoor Centipedes?
The centipedes can be located in the moist and damp areas of your house like bathrooms, corners of the kitchen, etc. They can also be found in dark basements or inside the drainage pipes. As they can crawl between very small gaps, you can mostly find them near the bathroom door or below the sink.
With their numerous legs, centipedes move very quickly. If one wishes to get rid of centipedes in the house, he can either kill or trap them in a container and leave them outside.
Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Indoor Centipedes
We will see some natural methods without using chemicals, to get rid of the centipedes in the house.
- Insect sticky trap – This sticky trap is a pad or strip which you can hang or keep at an appropriate place.
Usually, it will be 2.5 inches wide and 6 inches long and it can be effective for up to eight weeks. You can use it near windows, on floors, and near doors. If you have seen a centipede climbing the wall, you can hang it on the wall.
- Get rid of other insects – Many small insects in the house can attract centipedes, therefore try to maintain the house insect-free.
- Close all entry points – The centipedes, being very tiny bodies, can crawl under the smallest opening anywhere. You need to identify such gaps, cracks, or holes and close them. The centipedes can also get access through drainage pipes, so, having a mesh at the pipe opening will be an ideal solution.
- Cayenne Pepper – You can use cayenne pepper in both dry and wet form. It is a good centipede repellent – you can spread the powder or spray its solution around the area of activity.
- Keep the house dry – The centipedes need a moist place for them to live. So, particularly, you can keep the bathroom floor and the area below the tub dry.
Check these places for crevices and keep them dry.
- Boric Acid – Boric acid is a great natural pest eliminator. If you sprinkle a small amount of boric powder around the places of their activity, they will either walk out or get kill by contact.
- Spearmint or Peppermint Oil – Essential oils are natural centipede repellents with their strong odor that keep insects away.
- Silica Packets – Packets of Silica can be used in the most damp places and corners in the house. This will help keep the areas dry and keep away the moisture-loving centipedes.
You can place these packets inside the shoes, cupboards, and bathroom corners.
- Vanilla and Tea Tree Oil – Vanilla and tea tree oils irritate centipedes a lot. Tea tree is more powerful for this purpose.
Mix 6 ounces of water and 25 drops of tea tree in a spray container. Mix well and spray around the house. Repeat this every week and you will get amazing results.
- Naphthalene or Mothballs – Naphthalene or mothballs exert a very strong smell. This smell is hated by the insects and most of them will keep themselves away from your house.
The gas exerted from the mothballs during the sublimation process toxicates the centipedes and kills them.
- Eucalyptus oil – The smell of eucalyptus oil is unbearable to the centipedes as it is a good insect repellent. To a cup of water, add a quarter teaspoon of eucalyptus oil and shake well. Re-apply every three days for better and long-term results.
Eucalyptus is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic – meaning, it is a natural air purifier and kills airborne bacteria.
How to Get Rid of Centipedes with Pets in House?
Many common insects are harmless to pets and only a few can cause injury or poison your pets. However, the harmless insect may not be completely risk-free as it can give some infection or cause vomiting or other gastrointestinal issues to the pets. This would happen if the pet consumes too many of these insects at a time.
However, centipedes are venomous and can be deadly or very toxic, especially if it is a giant redhead centipede. But these centipedes do not invade home, so, if you take care of your pet outside, it will be sufficient. You can train the pet to identify the venomous insect and keep them away by peripheral treatment.
Chemical Treatment to Get Rid of Indoor Centipedes?
Some chemicals can be used to get rid of centipedes either to kill them or repel them.
- Spectre 2 SC Insecticide – It can be used as a spot, crack, and crevice treatment as it is a centipede deterrent. It blocks the entry points and poisons them.
Mix it 1.5 to 3 oz per gallon of water and use it.
- LambdaStar UltraCap 9.7 – This is a microencapsulated lambda-cyhalothrin formulation. This adheres well to the surfaces and gives a long-time residual effect.
It is safe to use even in the kitchen and pantry.
- D-Force Aerosol – It is a Deltamethrin-based contact & kill aerosol and can clear a large number of centipedes and provides 3-months of protection.
You can spray the D-Force aerosol around the doors, windows, and other potential entry points of centipedes. You can use it in storage rooms also.
- Demand CS and Talstar One – These are the pesticides with a liquid formulation. They need to be added to water and applied with a low-pressure sprayer. This will give a powerful residue that lasts up to 4 to 8 weeks.
These pesticides can be used inside and outside of the house.
- Delta Dust – This insecticide is used as a crack and crevice dust treatment after the use of the liquid formulation pesticides into the cracks and crevices where centipede may be living.
The effect will be there for about 8 months.
- Termidor SC – It controls many pests and majorly termites. It is the best one to control pests when used outside and protects homes for as long as 10 years. It comes in 20 oz. packing.
- Tempo SC Ultra – It needs low-usage rates and the effect lasts up to 3 months. It can be used indoors and outdoors and give effective results in both.
It can control over 100 pests.
- Talstar P Professional Pesticide – This is a pesticide with very low odor, leaves no stains, and there is no plant damage. It can control over 75 pests and gives long-lasting results on spiders, roaches, ants, and more.
- Pyrethroids – Deltamethrin, Cyfluthrin, Cypermethrin, and others are pyrethroids that exterminate centipedes on contact. It comes in both forms as fog and sprays. Most of the insects get eliminated when coming in contact with a wet or dry deposit of these broad-spectrum insecticides.
- Isopropyl Alcohol – In a spray bottle, add a cup of isopropyl alcohol, a teaspoon of vegetable oil, and a gallon of water. The spray can kill the invading centipedes indoor as well as outdoor.
How to Get Rid of Outdoor Centipedes?
Centipedes are the most common creatures – you can observe in lawns and gardens. As we know, these have 15 to about legs, hence, are called centipedes. They are nocturnal and can invade your property creeping through very small cracks and holes.
Usually, they will hide under stones, logs, or leaves litter in the moist condition. It should not be a surprise, if you find centipedes while you are cleaning the fallen leaves under the trees.
If you want to get rid of these creatures from your property, you can think of the following natural and chemicals methods to do so.
Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Outdoor Centipedes
If you have centipede activity outdoor, it is not much of a headache for you because, in general, the centipedes are known to be beneficial creatures as they eat other small pests. One can think of eradication only if infestation is high. You can try the following natural remedies to get rid of centipedes outdoors –
- Cayenne Pepper – Cayenne contains Capsaicin, a natural compound in peppers that gives a good amount of heat.
It is a natural centipede repellent and easily keeps centipedes away from your property.
- Seal off all the entry points – Apply weather-stripping to the outside area, caulk holes in the walls, clean drains, clutters, leaves, and debris.
- Boric Acid – Spread sufficient boric acid around the area where you have seen the centipede activity. It will not kill them immediately but after few days they will die or dehydrate as boric acid absorb their nutrients or scratches their exoskeleton.
- Diatomaceous Earth – Diatomaceous earth is made of several small fossilized sea-shells which are harmless to humans. This is an excellent natural insecticide and desiccating or scorching centipedes, scratching their exoskeleton and allowing moisture to escape.
- Neem Oil – The oil extracted from the neem plant is an essential oil and can be used as a centipede repellent. When it comes in contact with centipedes, it is ingested and upsets their hormonal system.
The life cycle comes to halt as they stop eating and mating.
- Cedar Oil – Cedar oil is another natural insecticide that is effective against all insects and arthropods.
On ingestion of this oil, centipedes suffer suffocation, osmotic dehydration, and emulsification of body fats.
- Soap Spray – The easily available remedy is to use water and dish soap. This solution causes dehydration on centipedes and eventually they die. The soap works on their exoskeleton and removes oils and wax allowing water to escape.
In a gallon of water add 2-3tablespoons of liquid dish wash, shake well, and spray where there is the activity of centipedes.
- Stop food supply – Centipedes prey on small insects and pests in the house. If you remove these pests and insects, you will observe the centipedes keeping away from your house.
Chemical Treatment to Get Rid of Outdoor Centipedes
There can be various methods if you want to remove outdoor centipedes. Along with that, you can take care to keep them away in the future. Below we will see some of the easier methods to remove them –
- Suspend SC – It is one of the residual liquids used as a long-term effect. It lasts up to about 4 to 8 weeks. You can apply it under and around eaves, decks, window shutters, and patios. You can see the effect as there will be dead centipedes around the area.
- Talstar EZ and Talstar PL Granules – These chemicals are specially made for outdoor treatment. The easy-to-spread granules will allow keeping your garden or lawn free of centipedes and other pests.
The effect will last as long as 2 to 3 months.
- LambdaStar UltraCap 9.7 – This product is made to give a long-term residue and it is very effective. It contains lambda-cyhalothrin which is a very easy formulation to use.
- Spectre 2 SC Insecticide – This is to be used in 1.5% to 3% solution per gallon and is a very good centipede deterrent. It can also be applied to the outer wall cracks and crevices. This is a bit of poisonous treatment.
- Delta Dust – This is a liquid formulation and is used for crack and crevice treatment and its effect can last for as long as 8 months.
- Cyonara 9.7 – It is a professional insecticide used for both indoor and outdoor treatment on many pests including the centipedes. It gives effective results on turf, shrubs, and ornamental trees.
- Zenprox EC insecticide – It is known to control and kill over 25 pests and is useful to use in wide applications in bigger areas like schools, apartments, hotels, and building structures.
- D-Fense Dust – It contains Deltamethrin as an active reagent about 0.05%. It is in dust form and can be wisely spread in the areas of centipede activity. It works similarly to Delta Dust.
How to Get Rid of Centipedes in Your Yard?
To prevent the centipedes from coming to your yard, you need to reduce their harborage and remove food sources. Inspect the area properly and fill up all cracks and holes. If you have a water pump house, ensure that the gap below it is always dry or sealed.
Install screens on windows in the basement and drain pipe openings. Since centipedes like pests, they eat molds grown at various places in the basement and yard. Watering the lawn has to be done carefully by avoiding excess water. Water puddles provide the perfect moist conditions for centipedes to thrive. Water the lawn before the afternoon so that it can dry properly without leaving any excess water.
How to Get Rid of Centipedes from Trees?
Centipedes like to live in moist, damp areas so it is not a surprise to find them in the trees or the potted plants in your garden. Though centipedes do not damage your plants like millipedes, if it is required, then only one can think about getting rid of them.
If they are present in more numbers and creating a nuisance, then, only it is advisable to treat them. Otherwise, they are beneficial as they eat other small insects and keep the area free of them.
Simple Ways to Get Rid of Centipedes from Trees
However, if you need to get rid of them though, you can opt for the following methods –
- Remove leaves fallen on the ground to avoid moisture.
- Remove debris and trash around the trees to prevent them from coming.
- Use the vacuum to remove centipedes from plants.
- Use sticky glue pads around potted plants.
- If you have centipedes, then, ensure their population does not grow much. This can be done by searching and removing the eggs in their nests.
How to Find Centipede Nests?
Common species of centipedes prefer to build their nests into the holes of the dampened soil. Female centipedes will lay around 50 eggs in those holes from the ground. Barring one or two species, the female centipede takes care of their offspring until they are able to hunt the food themselves.
Centipedes do not live in colonies but prefer to part ways as soon as they are able to hunt their food. They are not known to be a communal creature and stay together only during the hatching process. This is the reason they have temporary nests.
You can find centipedes together only if they are on the hunt for the same prey. Here, they will kill the prey united. As centipedes defer in habitats according to their region of living, you might find giant centipedes living in the wild collectively.
How to Treat the Centipedes Bites?
Centipedes are carnivorous and feed on insects and worms. They bite humans only if provoked. However, their bite rarely causes serious health issues in humans. As we have seen earlier, centipedes bite with their legs on the first segment. They can puncture the human skin with their bite.
The centipede bite shows two puncture marks which will become red and swollen. The power of venom differs with the size of centipedes. Pain, redness, and swelling are immediate signs after bite. Other symptoms will be fever, chills, nausea, swollen lymph nodes, extreme swelling, itching, and heart palpitations.
You can treat the centipede bite in the following way –
- Quickly, apply heat to the bite area. This will dilute the venom.
- Use ice packs to reduce the swelling.
- Use medicines such as antihistamines, anesthetics, and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain, inflammation, and allergic reactions.
- To avoid infection, use a topical antibiotic and keep the bite area clean and covered.
FAQ
Q. How to Get Rid of Centipedes under Pavers?
- If you observe the centipedes under the pavers, you can use insecticides specially made for spot, crack and crevice treatment. One can also caulk the cracks and crevices to prevent the re-occurrence.
Q. How to Get Rid of Centipedes around Pool?
- The best way to keep centipedes away around your pool is to use diatomaceous earth. You can spread the powder around the perimeter of the pool. By contact with it, the exoskeleton of centipedes gets dry and they die eventually.
Q. Which of the Centipedes cause severe injury?
- The Scolopendra genus causes the most severe injuries. Though intense pain is caused by their stings, they are not venomous to humans and can be resolved without any complication.
Q. How to Get Rid of Giant Centipedes?
- To effectively get rid of giant centipedes, one can spray the insecticide directly or use powders like boric acid or diatomaceous earth that are toxic only for the pests.
Q. How to Get Rid of Centipedes under Carpet?
- The floor under the carpet may always be found damp, to avoid this dampness which centipedes like, one needs to regularly access the carpet, roll it and dry the floor below it. Keeping the area dry will help much.
Q. How Vegans Get Rid of Centipedes?
- Vegans won’t like to kill the centipedes, so, they can trap them in a jar and leave them far away from the house. Trapping can be done by blocking their activity area and leading them to the jar.
Q. How to Get Rid of Centipedes in Refrigerator?
- Your refrigerator might be the best place for centipedes as it has moisture as well as dampness. Therefore, you need to inspect it regularly and also, clean it once in a while with a dry cloth.
- While transferring the food in the refrigerator, ensure it contains no unwanted pests within it.