House centipedes have been creeping through North American homes since the 1800s, often leaving us startled or scrambling for solutions. But despite their spooky looks, they play an important role in your home’s ecosystem. Here are four facts about house centipedes that might just change your perspective:
They Don’t Actually Have 100 Legs
Forget the “centi” in their name—house centipedes don’t have 100 legs. Fully grown, they sport 30 legs, arranged in 15 pairs. Their long, wispy legs give them that speedy, gliding movement we all notice (and sometimes jump at!).
They Love the Damp and Dark
If you’ve spotted a house centipede in your bathroom, it’s not their dream home—they’re just passing through. They’re big fans of dark, damp spaces like basements, closets, crawl spaces, or woodpiles. Bathrooms only attract them because of the moisture they need to survive.
Seeing One Could Mean You Have Other Pests
As creepy as they might seem, house centipedes are pest hunters. They feed on spiders, cockroaches, and other insects. So, if one’s zipping across your floor, it might be chasing prey, meaning you could have other critters lurking around.
Some People Keep Them as Pets
Believe it or not, house centipedes have fans. Exotic pet enthusiasts appreciate their unique look and knack for catching pests, making them a quirky addition to unconventional pet collections.
While house centipedes might seem like unwelcome guests, understanding their habits and role in managing other pests can help ease some of that initial fear. So next time you see one moving across your floor, you’ll know there’s more to them than meets the eye! Have a centipede problem? Contact Abell Pest Control.
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You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
