Is a centipede in the house dangerous?

The centipede, also known as the millipede or flycatcher, often infiltrates residential spaces: apartments, houses, and cottages. The insect's appearance and size evoke disgust and horror in people who suddenly discover it. But despite its menacing appearance, the flycatcher is not at all dangerous.

What is a centipede?

The centipede belongs to the class of arthropods. In the wild, it lives in leaf litter. Its original habitat was the Middle East, North Africa, and southern Europe. Today, exotic species of this insect, related to the house flycatcher, are also found there.

To thrive, a centipede requires a warm, humid environment and plenty of food. The house flycatcher is a predator by nature, feeding on any small insects and arthropods it can find.

• fleas;
• earwigs;
• flies and midges;
• spiders;
• cockroaches;
• termites;
• moths and butterflies;
• silverfish.

The house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) should not be confused with the true centipede, whose bite can cause a serious burn.

The centipede's armored body, short, powerful legs, and eyeless head are all adapted to life under rocks and leaves.

Centipedes can live up to 7 years. They reproduce by laying eggs in secluded places. Moist soil is ideal for this.

A single female flycatcher can lay around 60 eggs at a time, and in some cases even more, and therefore, to prevent a massive infestation of centipedes in a home, it is important to clean and dry out areas where the insects may be nesting.

What does a house centipede look like?

What's so frightening about this insect's appearance? An adult centipede has a body up to 60 mm long. Its base color ranges from gray-yellow to bright brown. Its back has three longitudinal stripes of purple or blue. Its main feature, as its name suggests, is its legs. Are there forty of them? In fact, the number of legs varies with age and is directly related to the number of body segments. Initially, a newborn centipede has one to four segments with four pairs of striped legs. As its body grows, new legs appear. This process continues until the number of legs reaches 15 pairs, with the outermost legs being longer than the others and more resembling whip-like antennae.

Photo gallery: The structure of the flycatcher

Table: External differences between a centipede and a scolopendra

Should you be afraid of a centipede?

Based on its diet, the flycatcher is more of a friend to man. It's a beneficial insect, eating pests in the home and apartment.

Arguments in favor of the centipede:

1. It cannot damage property: it doesn't damage interior items or touch food. The centipede only feeds on insects.
2. The flycatcher leads a solitary life, rarely being seen.
3. It is not a carrier of infections.
4. In the south, millipedes are honored guests in gardens and fields because they help protect crops from harmful insects.
5. In Ukraine, the insect is even listed in the Red Book.

How a centipede gets into a person's home

In the wild, centipedes live in leaf litter and overwinter in warm shelters. Therefore, with the onset of cold weather, these insects may crawl indoors. Room temperature is quite suitable for comfortable living for centipedes.

Centipedes can only appear where other insects live; otherwise, they won't survive without a constant food source. If your home is home to flies, spiders, and cockroaches, be prepared for a centipede to move in, searching for food. She will simply come from the street or from the neighboring apartment.

Centipedes typically nest in basements and cellars of private homes. This is due to the humidity in these areas. When hunting, these insects can move throughout the rooms. The centipede's active period can be both day and night, but it most often hunts at night. Having selected its prey, the centipede waits motionless on the wall, demonstrating remarkable endurance. Thanks to its ability to reach high speeds, it can easily catch a cricket, a fly, or a cockroach.

The centipede injects its prey with venom through its bite.

In winter, even in a warm room, flycatchers "hibernate," hibernating in some secluded corner. With the arrival of spring, they awaken, emerge from their hiding place, and begin a new hunting season.

The house centipede can catch several prey at once. While it's devouring one insect, it holds another in its tenacious claws.

Centipedes are very sensitive to changes in their microclimate. Their long antennae easily detect even the slightest fluctuations in air temperature, as well as sense drafts and other dangers. When such uncomfortable conditions arise, centipedes immediately retreat to a comfortable spot.

Is a centipede bite dangerous?

People often fear that the centipede's venom, which is effective against insects, could also be used against them. While the common flycatcher is capable of biting humans, it's unlikely to cause significant harm. This arthropod can attack people only in self-defense.In fact, a centipede isn't always capable of penetrating the skin. It's said that if a puncture occurs and the insect releases venom, the sensation is comparable to a bee sting.

Often, a centipede is simply unable to bite through human skin.

Standard symptoms of a bite:

• redness;
• burning;
• itching.

The centipede's venom is virtually harmless to humans. The greatest danger is the possibility of an allergic reaction. In self-defense, the centipede may also attempt to bite pets. However, even in this case, skin damage is unlikely.

A centipede's bite, however, is far more dangerous. The venom, while not fatal (unless it's a tropical species), causes significant pain, including severe swelling of the skin. A small pet can even die from a centipede's venomous attack.

The scolopendra, unlike the centipede, can cause harm to humans.

First aid

If bitten by a house flycatcher, you should:

1. Wash the affected area with warm water and soap.
2. Wipe with any disinfectant solution: medical alcohol, calendula tincture, cologne, boric acid.
3. If there is swelling and severe burning, apply a cold compress.
4. If necessary (if there is an allergic reaction), take a single dose of an antihistamine.

You should consult a doctor if you experience the following alarming symptoms:

• severe malaise;
• nausea;
• vomit;
• clouding of consciousness.

Typically, such symptoms are not observed with a house flycatcher bite.

A centipede attack presents a completely different picture. First, severe swelling may occur. For example, if a hand is bitten, it can sometimes even swell completely. The obligatory reaction of the body (except in rare cases) will be an increase in body temperature and a general deterioration in condition.

In such cases, you should consult a doctor. A warm compress should be used as a first aid measure. Alternatively, you can apply a heating pad to the bite site. This helps break down the centipede's venom.

How to get rid of centipedes in your apartment

Not all standard methods of fighting insects in an apartment are suitable for killing centipedes. For example, the sticky traps recommended by many prove ineffective and even useless. The fact is that even when thoroughly entangled, flycatchers escape without losing several of their legs. They quickly grow new ones. Poisoned baits also don't frighten these arthropods. They feed exclusively on insects, and flies and cockroaches haven't yet been invented as bait.

Universal household insect repellents will help in the fight against centipedes: sprays, aerosols, fumigators

The highlight of the flycatcher control program is the extermination of insect pests. Once the centipede loses its constant food source, it will be forced to leave the house.

It's important to remember that flycatchers are rare in residential areas. They don't breed in unfamiliar environments. Therefore, it's easy enough to catch them and release them outside. If you're still inclined to resort to drastic measures, you can kill the insect using any common method. Chemical treatments that work best include sprays:

• Starex;
• Medilis-ciper;
• Henkel Combat;
• Raid.

You can also use products that do not require spraying:

• Globol Origina paste;
• Lambda-zone granules;
• Aquafumigator Raptor.

Prevention methods

The main way to protect yourself from flycatchers is prevention:

1. Tidy up the area around your home. Remove fallen leaves, dry grass, and construction debris.
2. Clear the walls of your house of climbing plants.
3. Dry out your basement and crawlspace. House centipedes love moisture. If conditions aren't right, they'll leave to find a more comfortable place.

If you live in a city apartment, it's important to first restrict insect access from both the street and the neighboring apartment. This can be accomplished using the following mechanical methods:

1. Eliminate gaps and cracks in window frames.
2. Fill the baseboards (or even renew them).
3. Install mesh on the ventilation holes.

Video: The benefits of centipedes

Reviews

Why get rid of a centipede? I threw one out into the street a few months ago, but after that I got cockroaches. I can't stand it anymore, I spray everything with a special solution. Of course, there are practically no cockroaches now, but damn, a flytrap would be more effective. I was wondering where I could buy one. I was even thinking about going to a pet store or something and finally getting one. I'd keep it in my home, let it run around and eat all the insects.

If centipede problems are confined to indoor areas, you can sprinkle a residual insecticide powder in places where centipedes typically hide—cracks in walls, dark corners in the basement, on the utility floor, and under furniture. Keep in mind that the centipedes will need to walk through the powder, as they are predators that hunt for moving prey and are not baited.

I sprayed Raid under the bathtub to get rid of centipedes. They didn't show up for almost six months. Last week, when I went into the bathroom again, I saw a centipede run under the bathtub. Remembering the Raid just in time, I sprayed it on every corner of the bathroom. Five minutes later, when I came back into the bathroom, I saw a dead centipede crawl out from under the bathtub. I was delighted with the results once again.

Centipedes are harmless insects. They can even be useful in controlling indoor pests. However, if their presence bothers you or causes concern, simply block their entry into your home and create unfavorable conditions for them to live in. Chemical control of centipedes is a last resort.