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With long, sensitive antennae, yellow to dark brown coloring, and small mouths that contain venom glands, you can usually recognize centipedes by their worm-like bodies and many legs. In fact, centipedes can have anywhere from 15 to 177 pairs of legs, which they use to crawl across floors and walls. 
 
Do centipedes bite? Although they do have venom glands and are capable of biting, centipedes don't usually pose a threat to humans or pets. At most, their bites are known to cause mild swelling or redness, but there are no known health issues associated with centipede bites. 
 
However, that doesn't mean centipedes are a welcome sight in your South Portland home. Here are some facts about centipedes, including information about their natural predator, why you should never try to kill a house centipede, and how centipede control in South Portland and pest control in South Portland can help. 

Five Things You Didn't Know About Centipedes 

The centipedes in your basement are more mysterious than you might think, and here are five things you might not have known about these pests: 
  1. The older a centipede is, the more legs it will have. This is because centipedes can regrow their legs when they molt. The more times they molt, the more legs they will grow or regrow. Not all legs will grow completely back during this phase, so it may take a few molts before a centipede has all fully functional legs. 
  2. Centipedes are considered to be one of the oldest animals in the world, with a history that dates back to more than 400 million years ago. 
  3. Centipedes aren't as slow as you might think, especially when they're motivated to catch prey or escape a predator. Given their segmented bodies, several pairs of legs, and waxy outer coating, centipedes can cross more than a foot of flooring in a second. 
  4. Centipedes have a variety of prey. While smaller species might eat worms, insects, roaches, and mollusks, larger centipedes can easily chow down on larger prey. 
  5. Centipedes have long lifespans, with some house centipedes and other species reaching five to six years in age.

These mysterious creatures may have an interesting background, but that doesn't mean you want them lurking in your basement.

What Is The Natural Predator For Centipedes

What kills centipedes? Centipedes can be prey for several animals, including birds, certain types of spiders, mice, frogs, beetles, and snakes. Some of these predators – like frogs and spiders – can also serve as prey for larger centipedes. When they do eat centipedes, frogs and spiders primarily chase after young or vulnerable centipedes that won't be able to escape. 

Here's Why You Should Never Kill A House Centipede

Can you kill a house centipede that you find in your home? While it may be tempting to take care of this pest on your own, that doesn't mean you should. If you only have one or two house centipedes in your home, these pests can actually be beneficial. 

Not only do they stay out of your way, but they can also take care of other unsavory pests, like spiders or roaches. Centipedes can deter more dangerous pests, and you don't have to worry about them setting up a nest or web. 

However, centipedes can sometimes go from helping to harming. One or two house centipedes might help you control the population of dangerous pests, but an infestation can be a considerable nuisance – and may even attract even more pests you don't want, like rodents. 

Given their long lifespans, you also may not want centipedes hanging around your home for years at a time.

And, even if your house centipedes haven't become a nuisance, that doesn't mean you shouldn't call the professionals. Too many centipedes can indicate another pest problem in your home, and you can't rely on house centipedes to completely deter dangerous pests like cockroaches. 

Centipede Control For South Portland Homes

If you're worried that your centipede problem has gotten out of hand or gone beyond what is helpful to get rid of other pests, it may be time to call in professional assistance from Big Blue Bug Solutions.

There's a reason why we're the trusted choice for pest (and centipede) management in South Portland. If you're noticing too many centipedes crawling around your home, there's no reason to wait – contact us at Big Blue Bug Solutions today to learn more about how we can help.

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