Centipedes are harmless to humans, but not exactly what you want to see in your home.
There are more than 2,000 species of centipedes, and most prefer the outdoors than your kitchen floor.
However, there is an exception: the house centipede or the Scutigera coleoptrata – if you want to get technical.
House centipedes enjoy the moist warm areas of your home, which is why you are more likely to see one in the bathtub or under your kitchen than anywhere else.
Should You be Concerned about a Centipede Bite?
Centipedes bite, and they have poison glands that kill their prey. However, their bite strength cannot penetrate human skin. In the rare event, you are bitten by one, you will have a sore bite mark, like a mild bee sting. The sore disappears in a few hours, and even pets and children do not have to worry about harm from the centipede.
While there is no risk in Ontario centipedes, there is also nothing wrong with wanting centipedes removed from your home.
Tips for Effective Centipede Removal in Ontario Homes
Yes, you can rid your home of annoying centipedes once and for all. Naturally, you should consult with a professional before you attempt to do anything because your insect issue could go beyond centipede problems.
If you want to eradicate the 100-leg (or so) monster, you must tackle the problem differently than other pests.
1. Centipedes Do Not Have Nests
There is no nest or den to hunt down and smash with centipedes. Instead, they are independents who hunt, sleep, and do their thing. The prefer the taste of spiders and other small insects, and you will not find a group of centipedes hanging out together. To remove them, you must treat the area but then take preventative measures.
2. Seal Up Your House
The easiest way for centipedes to gain access to your home is through open windows and doors. If you leave a door open, ensure you have proper weather stripping and a sealed screen. Go around your house and look for cracks and crevices between the window sill and screen too – a favored entry point for house centipedes.
3. Get Gritty
Diatomaceous earth is a powder that is made from crushed fossils. While non-toxic to you, this powder cuts insects and dehydrates them until they expire. Placing a small layer of this powerful powder in crevices and cracks is a good way to stop house centipedes from coming back inside.
Word of caution: do not inhale and do not put near areas where it can be kicked up – it is dangerous if you get the fibres into your lungs.
Contact a Pro for Centipede Removal in Toronto
Instead of worrying about how they are getting in, stop them for up to one-year by hiring the team at Power Pest Control, Inc.
We carry a superior rating on HomeStars, and we’re a member of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses.
When you use our residential services, you get centipede removal in Toronto guaranteed up to six months to a year.
Schedule a pest consultation at 647-708-7378 or send us a message online.
