How to get rid of centipedes in an apartment or private house

A centipede (centipede or skolopendra) is an insect belonging to the type of arthropod tracheal, i.e. having a respiratory organ. Thanks to him, the centipedes are adapted to life on land, but live in a humid environment. This is the most ancient insect species that existed long before the appearance of ape-like creatures. Completely harmless centipedes feed on cockroaches and flies, without harming humans. But they have an unattractive and even frightening appearance, so their appearance in the house makes very few people happy. There are various ways to get rid of the problem.

What does a centipede look like

Scolopendra has a flattened long body consisting of 15 segments. On the sides are located from 15 to 40 pairs of limbs, each of which grows back in case of damage or loss. The first pair of limbs is equipped with ticks, with which the centipede grabs the victim and bites it, injecting paralyzing poison. It is worth reassuring that the insect cannot bite a human.Her poison acts only on their own relatives - flies, cockroaches, slugs, snails. She feeds on them, so she settles where you can profit from something.

Tropical skolopendry reach huge sizes. They feed on rodents and small animals such as mice and moles. They can breed for fun, placing in aquariums. It is better not to take such large individuals with bare hands, otherwise, in search of food, the scolopendra will cling to the finger and inject poison. It is not dangerous, but unpleasant.

The centipede has excellent eyesight, it sees well both during the day and at night. It moves quickly, lifting its flat body on its numerous legs and developing a speed of up to 40 cm per second. She can stop abruptly, turn around 360 degrees and just as quickly run on. A flat body makes it possible to crawl into any crevices. With the help of a pair of antennae, the skolopendra is perfectly oriented in space.

Why centipedes appear in apartments

No insect will live where there is no food source for it. The centipede eats fleas, bugs, cockroaches, spiders. If this insect appeared in your house, it means that all of the above also lives there.And there is also increased humidity in the room, because this is the second condition for the life of the centipede. In wildlife, it settles in barns, country houses, basements, lives under stumps, stones, hides under fallen leaves. If an insect with a lot of legs is comfortable in your apartment, it means that it is wet, cool and there is enough food.

Centipedes often settle in bathrooms and toilets. They get there through the ventilation shaft from the basement, where there are a lot of living creatures. You can do regular cleaning, but animals will still get to your apartment through ventilation. Often the appearance of scolopendra is preceded by a grand renovation in the room or in the whole house. The bathroom is finished with collection tiles, a new plumbing fixture is being installed, and soon there will be “lodgers”. But the fact is that during the repair they made a good waterproofing of the floor, the walls thanks to the tile do not absorb moisture, and ideal conditions for centipedes are created inside the room. They get there through baseboards, doorways or ventilation.

If the scolopendra is revealed in the kitchen or in the living room, this indicatesthat urgent cosmetic repairs are needed. Perhaps the visit was cluttered up, and not only centipedes appeared there, but also cockroaches, spiders and fleas.

How to get rid of centipedes

Before you start expelling these harmless insects from your home, take care of the cleanliness and order in your apartment. The centipede will not start where there are no black flies, cockroaches or spiders. If she settled next to you, then other insects also live there. Disassemble the rubble from newspapers, check stocks of cereals and flour. It is quite possible that a food moth started there.

1. Humidity is another condition for a Scolopendra residence. Sometimes it is enough to dry the apartment, and the insects leave themselves. If they live in the bathroom and toilet, take care to lower the humidity level. Leave the door open at night, and air every time after taking a shower or bath. Seal the toilet and bath, there should be no gaps between it and the walls.
2. Centipedes practically do not react to traps, unlike cockroaches. Tapes for flies also do not work. By sticking to it, the skolopendra will tear off a pair of paws, which will grow themselves, and move on.
3. Treat the baseboards and corners with sprays and aerosols against insects. They will act on centipedes in the same way as on cockroaches or bedbugs.
4. If insects are bred in a country house, take care of waterproofing the floor. Centipedes crawl through the cracks in it. This is true in the case when the house is right on the ground. Clean around the house fallen leaves, throw away the stale trash, despite the fact that it is stored in the cottages.
5. In extreme cases, you can resort to using chemicals. Centipedes are affected by the same means as cockroaches and other crawling insects.

Chemicals in the fight with the centipede

1. Akvafumigator Raptor. It consists of a plastic bath where water is poured, and the aqua-fumigator itself. After it is placed in the bath steam is formed, enveloping the whole room. During the procedure, you should leave the room and take with them pets, including fish and hamsters. Together with centipedes all flies, cockroaches, spiders and other animals will die. Efficiency 100%.
2. Liquid means "Medilis-Tsiper". It is diluted with water and sprayed with a spray bottle. Affects all insects. Has a peculiar smell, process the room only with gloves.
3. Raid aerosol from flying and crawling insects. It has a pleasant aroma of lavender, you can be in the room after processing, non-toxic. However, additional airing would not hurt.
4. Spray Starex. Allows to process plinths, cracks. Efficient and inexpensive.
5. Means "Lambda Zone". Contains 2.5% granulated lambda-cyhalothrin, odorless and harmless to humans and pets.
6. Means "Delta Zone". It is diluted with water and applied with a spray bottle. Odorless.
7. Globol Original Insect Paste It has an active substance diflubenzuron and deltamethrin, therefore, despite the faint odor, you need to use it carefully. Centipedes go away for a long time.
8. Means "Avalon". Used by professional disinfectors. Destroys all types of insects, including skolopendra.
9. Henkel Combat aerosol. It has a convenient applicator, with the help of which the tool gets into hard-to-reach slots, under the bath and into the ventilation shaft. Has a strong strong smell.When using observe safety precautions. Very effective.

To get rid of the centipede, restore, above all, order. Disassemble the debris, clean the room, reduce the humidity level. Take care of sealing and waterproofing of the room. Using chemicals, do not forget about safety.