Centipede Identification & Prevention

Centipedes are arthropods. While there are many different types of arthropods living worldwide, they all share the following physical characteristics:

• A segmented body
• Segmented legs
• An exoskeleton, which is a hard exterior that covers the body segments

The name "centipede" means “100 legs,” yet most centipedes don’t have exactly 100 legs. The numbers of legs centipedes have depends on their species and size; in most cases, they have between 15 and 191 pairs of legs. Their many legs allow them to move quickly and easily hunt down their insect prey.

Centipedes have worm-like bodies flattened from top to bottom; each body segment contains one pair of legs. They are typically brown or yellowish-brown.

Centipedes in Jersey City do not pose significant dangers to people. However, spotting these pests darting out of a dark corner of your home is startling and leaves homeowners feeling uneasy.

Limiting contact with centipedes is always advised. They can bite people and inject their venom. Luckily a centipede's venom is usually only potent enough to harm its insect prey, not people. However, avoiding centipede bites is still best. Centipede bites are painful and are likened to a bee sting. Centipede bites typically happen when a person makes accidental contact with one of these pests, usually doing something like gardening or reaching into the back of a dark storage space.

Centipedes are most problematic in indoor and outdoor spaces where there is an excess of moisture. These pests have high moisture needs, so areas of damp soil, piles of decaying debris, damp basements, and crawl spaces are where these pests regularly gather.

In addition to moisture, easy access to their prey is another attractant to indoor and outdoor spaces. If there are large numbers of centipedes on your property, there is likely a widespread pest problem that you need to address. To control predatory pests, you must also control the prey that attracts them.

Centipedes require a constant source of moisture or they will dry up and die. Outside in our yards, centipedes gather in the damp soil found under mulch, landscaping ties, containers like trashcans, large rocks, and debris resting against your home’s foundation.

When it becomes too hot and dry outside for them to survive, they will move toward moisture. Our home's leaky pipes, spigots, faucets, and air conditioners provide the moisture these pests need for survival. Centipedes can quickly move into our homes by squeezing their flattened bodies through slight cracks in foundations and gaps under doors.

If centipedes are regularly finding their way into your home, Bayonne Exterminating is here to help. We can provide you with quality pest control solutions necessary to remove these pests from your property, then, utilizing cutting technology, we will keep them away year-round.

Our professionals are continuously trained and have a deep understanding of our region’s pests. We know the best steps to take to control centipedes and other household pests in and around Jersey City homes. For information about our dependable home pest control and commercial pest control offerings, please reach out today.

To prevent future issues with centipedes, consider the following prevention tips: 

• Lower humidity levels in your home using ventilation fans and dehumidifiers.
• Quickly repair leaky pipes and spigots.
• Repair cracks in your home’s foundation.
• Install door sweeps on all exterior doors, especially basement doors.
• Remove leaves, weeds, and other piles of debris from your home’s exterior.
• Store woodpiles, trashcans, and recycling bins up off the ground. 
• Keep storage areas like basements and crawl spaces clear of debris.

If you are tired of finding centipedes in your basement, we can help! Call today to learn more.