Different types of centipedes can have various numbers of legs, but did you know that none of them actually have 100 exactly? That’s because they always have an odd number of legs. Like a lot of South Carolina winter pests, centipedes tend to make more appearances indoors during cold weather when they want shelter. So, today we’re bringing you fun facts about centipedes.
If you’ve seen some at home or in your business, you’re probably wondering if centipedes are dangerous or spread disease. The short answer is that a centipede won’t kill you, but it does have venomous fangs that can leave a sting.
Centipedes mostly just bite in self-defense, so you’ll want to leave them alone and let your Hilton Head exterminators handle things if you have a centipede nuisance.
House Centipede Habits
You are probably looking up info about centipedes because you saw one crawl across the floor or wall. We get a lot of calls from people around Beaufort County wondering why their centipedes came indoors and what they should do about them. Here’s what you need to know:
– Centipedes are carnivores that eat other bugs and small organisms. Some people consider it lucky to get one in the home, because they might be reducing the population of other South Carolina winter pests.
– You’ll see them more often at night because that’s when they like to hunt for food.
– They also seek areas with moisture, like kitchens, laundry rooms, and basements, because they suffer from dehydration easily.
– Centipedes can live from 2 to 6 years, so yes, that might be the same bug you saw last year!
Centipede Identification
Millipedes and centipedes are both arthropods that share a subphylum called Myriapoda. Other types of arthropods include arachnids (spiders) and crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, and crabs).
– There are thousands of centipede species! Their legs number from 15 to 177.
– Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment, while millipedes have multiple sets per segment.
– Antennae are used to find prey; most centipedes have poor eyesight or no eyes at all.
– Female centipedes have a long pair of legs at their tail end.
Are Centipedes Dangerous?
Centipede bites are rarely fatal, but that’s a small comfort. If one does bite you, expect at least a small amount of pain, swelling, numbness, redness, and other symptoms that you would expect from a bug bite. Allergic reactions can occur, especially among people who are allergic to bee stings.
They may not be as dangerous as they look, but centipedes do bite and sting!
Getting Rid of Centipedes
There are many great reasons to not worry about centipedes. As far as South Carolina winter pests go, you could do a lot worse! Centipedes eat other bugs and generally will not damage your property or spread germs.
On the other hand, nobody really wants to look at centipedes crawling around the house. Due to their venomous bite, you should absolutely be concerned about your child or pet getting bitten.
Remember, not all centipedes look gross. Sometimes a kid will pick one up out of curiosity. You probably won’t end up in the emergency room, but you could have a painful bite or swollen wound from it.
Island Pest Control has you covered for all kinds of South Carolina winter pests, including centipedes, millipedes, cockroaches, rodents, and more.
Our Purdue-educated technicians and staff entomologist provide a complete solution for Hilton Head pest control. We identify the specific problem and apply proven treatment methods to get your home or office pest-free for the rest of winter and beyond.
Whether you find them to be fascinating or frightening, it’s always best to get rid of centipedes and other South Carolina winter pests. Contact us for a free 58-point inspection and estimate for pest control in Hilton Head, Okatie, Bluffton, and the surrounding area!
