How to Get Rid of Centipede Infestation

Many people view centipedes as a scary insect because they can be 1 to 6 inches in length, have many body segments, numerous legs and normally a brown body color. However, centipedes can be beneficial because they kill harmful insects like termites and cockroaches. They do make an unpleasant sight inside of homes, often leading to preventive and eradication methods being used to control a centipede infestation.

Things You'll Need

  • Indoor insecticide
  • Outdoor insecticide
  • Caulk
  • Dehumidifier
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Instructions

  1. Insecticides

    • 1

      Purchase indoor insecticides and spray any centipedes that get inside. CB80 or Invader are two indoor insecticides that have effectively been used to kill centipedes. They can be purchased online or at a hardware store.

    • 2

      Spray outdoor areas where centipedes are living or entering homes with outdoor insecticides or time release insecticide powders. Demand or Demon WP are two successful brands of pesticides used outdoors to kill centipedes. Different brands will need to be reapplied at different times, so read instructions to know when to reapply to keep centipedes from coming back.

    • 3

      Caulk any of the cracks that centipedes are using to enter homes to keep them outdoors where they belong. Search any places in the home that are damp for centipedes to make sure they have all been killed.

    Change the Environment

    • 4

      Change outdoor elements that are drawing centipedes into or around your home. Outdoors, centipedes live in damp places such as under boards, rocks, leaves, mulch around plants and basically any moist area that provides cover. Keep outdoor habitats centipedes enjoy away from the home and clean up any debris that are drawing them to an area.

    • 5

      Clean up indoors areas that centipedes are living in. Centipedes are drawn to moist areas such as basements, closets and cellars. Make sure indoor areas that have moisture problems are clean. Placing a dehumidifier into a moist area will help make the location uninhabitable for centipedes. Remove any trash from indoor areas where centipedes are living.

    • 6

      Eliminate common food sources that are drawing centipedes indoors or near homes. Centipedes feed on termites, cockroaches, bed bugs, spiders and other insects. Eliminating insect populations inside your home and near your home will eliminate the available food for centipedes, which will keep them from living near your home.