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Can House Centipedes Be Dangerous?

House centipedes will enter a building looking for shelter and food. They are quite adept at living indoors, especially if they are able to find other insects that they can feed on. Generally, house centipedes are not harmful, but there can be some issues when they invade the home.

The centipede venom

Most centipedes have venom, since they are a predatory species. However, house centipedes do not have painful or dangerous bites, but there are species that are usually found outdoors that are very dangerous. These centipedes are much larger than their house variation, and they have visible fangs. One of the more famous dangerous centipede species is known as the giant desert centipede, or the Scolopendra heros, which is found in the Southwest. It can reach up to 10 inches in length, and it is known to be aggressive, with its bite leading to intense pain, inflammation and swelling. The symptoms will subside after a few hours, but some people may experience extra symptoms if they are sensitive to the venom.

Can centipedes harm pets?

Most dogs and cats will be safe from house centipedes. Dogs will usually encounter them when they sniff around the yard, but fleas and ticks are the much more dangerous insects here. Cats will chase and play with centipedes if they find them indoors.

Dealing with a house centipede infestation

Despite them being mostly harmless, house centipedes can be quite unsightly, and as such, many homeowners want to get rid of these pests as soon as possible. The best way to do this is to hire a pro. While you can kill the centipedes that you see out in the open, if you have an infestation, you will need to destroy the nest, and a pest control professional can help you with that.

You can also implement prevention methods to make sure that the odds of future infestations are lower. For example, lowering the humidity in your bathroom and kitchen will create a less than ideal environment for house centipedes, which will lower the probability that they will enter the home.

If you currently have a house centipede infestation, we can help you out. Contact us today if you have any questions about these pests, or if you would like to schedule an appointment and have them removed from your home. Our team is eager to help you with any pest control issue you may have.