Getting rid of centipedes in the house requires a 2-step process that involves moisture and food supply. Centipedes are invertebrates with an exoskeleton, multiple pairs of legs, and they inhabit most of the world. There are around 3,000 known species of legged centipedes ranging from 15 to over 300.
As adaptable as they are, they always need a moist environment to survive because they lack the protective waxy cuticle of insects or spiders. Hence his preference for rocks, piles of leaves or vegetation, wood, etc. In spring they come out to breed and in autumn they are attracted to the houses in search of warmth and food. Due to their need for moisture, they are generally placed in parts of the home that mimic their natural surroundings, such as basements, kitchen sinks, washing machines, or laundry rooms.
The common house centipede is called Scutigera Coleoptrata and like all centipedes it is a predator. The house centipede is 1 to 2 inches long and has 15 pairs of legs developed in several molts from an original set of only 4 legs when it was newborn. Other larger centipedes such as the tropical Scolopendromorpha They are born directly with 21 pairs of shorter legs and flexible segments, can reach a gigantic size of up to 12 inches (30 cm) and feed on mice, lizards, frogs and even tarantulas, while the house centipede has a rigid segmented body with long, quick legs and feeds on other household pests. Unlike other species of centipede, the house centipede has good eyesight, but it also catches its prey with the help of antennae.
Typical prey for house centipedes include ants, termites, bed bugs, spiders, and cockroach nymphs, as well as opportunistic kitchen scraps. They hunt at night and this is the time when they are usually sighted. In general, the house centipede provides good service, as it naturally preys on other unwanted household pests that are objectively much more dangerous than the centipede itself. Just think of the many germs and diseases carried by cockroaches, fleas (including the historic bubonic plague via rat fleas), or blood-feeding bed bugs. Centipedes do not chase humans nor are they a health hazard like other pests, however there are 2 reasons why homeowners want to get rid of centipedes in the house the moment they see one of them.
One reason is that their presence can be a tell-tale sign that there is another infestation that the centipede is feeding on. The other reason is just their appearance. Centipedes are pretty disgusting. Combine this with your speed and maneuverability and you have a horror movie like a living creature, right in the middle of your room. Unfortunately, as long as the centipedes have no reason to leave, they will stay and multiply. So the solution to remove them is to give them a reason to leave.
How to get rid of centipedes in the house then? Tidy up the clutter in the bathroom, kitchen, basement, and all the known damp places where centipedes rest. Use dehumidifiers and desiccators to dry the environment as much as possible and allow maximum ventilation. In this way, centipedes will have a difficult time keeping their bodies moist and may want to leave.
If their presence is persistent, it may be a sign that they have found a steady supply of food to feed on. This means that you may have more than just a centipede problem, but also cockroaches, ants, or any other insect that attracts the centipede to stay. In this case, you may need to follow a 2-step pest eradication procedure, both indoors and outdoors, to get rid of all pests, including the top of the food chain, the centipedes themselves.