Five Things You Didn't Know About Centipedes
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.