Centipedes

Centipedes (Scolopendra spp.) are land-dwelling arthropods that are often pests in the garden and in homes. Most house centipedes are about 1.5 inches long and have 15 pairs of long, slender legs that extend outward from the body. They feed on tiny insects, spiders, and insect larvae. Typically, centipedes prefer to dwell in areas that are damp and undisturbed. This means many gardeners and homeowners come across centipedes under firewood, in crawl spaces, basements, basements, and closets.http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/iiin/housece.html

Centipedes do not cause household damage or eat plants. They are, however, capable of biting. Centipedes are not aggressive, but when cornered or startled, may bite and leave a small wound that can become swollen, numb, discolored, or cause allergic reactions.http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7472.htmlhttp://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-1747.html The venom that can cause this reaction in humans is used to kill their insect prey before eating it.http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-1747.html

One of the first steps toward controlling centipedes is eliminating the places where they like to hide. That means drying up damp spaces and eliminating trash and debris, both indoors and outdoors. Using pesticides indoors may be a viable option if there is a large population of centipedes. Sprays such as carbaryl (Sevin) or pyrethrins may be applied exactly according to product instructions and can provide some form of control, provided that the product is labeled specifically to treat for centipedes.http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-1747.html

Outdoors, control is rarely recommended since they will not damage plants and can help control other bugs that may be potentially more harmful.http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7472.html