House Centipedes
Chilopoda
General Information
The word centipede technically means “100 legs,” but most species actually have around 30 legs.1 While house centipedes can be beneficial because they’re stealth predators that eat other insects, seeing them in your home can be quite frightening. Learn more about these fast, darting creatures and find out how to help prevent centipedes from creeping into your home.
- House centipedes are most active at night.
- House centipedes eat other small insects, including silverfish, spiders, cockroaches, and firebrats.2
Size
Color
Bite or Sting
Wings
Commonly mistaken for
Additional details
- Outdoors, house centipedes usually live in damp, dark places, such as under stones, flowerpots, boards, or similar debris where there is abundant moisture.
- Indoors, house centipedes often live in basements, closets, and bathrooms where there is usually high humidity.
- House centipedes are looking for food to eat, which includes other small insects.
- If you see centipedes in the house frequently, this may indicate that the insects they eat are in abundance somewhere in your home.2
- House centipedes are technically beneficial since they are predators and eat other insects. However, their appearance and presence in the home can be frightening to most people.
- If provoked, larger house centipedes may bite, causing localized pain and some slight swelling. Centipede bites are usually not serious, but you should get medical attention if a bite punctures the skin.
- Keep compost piles and decaying vegetation away from the house.
- Caulk windows and holes to help prevent centipedes from coming inside.
- If you notice house centipedes or millipedes in your basement, try running a dehumidifier to make the area less humid, and therefore less appealing.
Solutions for Centipedes
Easy-to-use and effective for up to 13 weeks*, this ant and roach spray kills problem insects on contact with no lingering chemical odor.
*on Cockroaches and Ants on non-porous surfaces such as ceramic and laminate. (Carpenter Ants for up to 12 weeks. Kills by contact.)
Highlights:
Raid® Ant & Roach Killer 26 kills on contact and keeps killing with residual action for up to 13 weeks*.
- It leaves no lingering chemical odor.
- This easy-to-use spray can be applied to surfaces where ants, roaches and other listed bugs may be infesting.
- Available in 12 oz., 17.5 oz. and 20 oz. sizes.
- Available in Lemon, Lavender, and Outdoor Fresh scents. Also, available in Fragrance Free.
*on Cockroaches and Ants on non-porous surfaces such as ceramic and laminate. (Carpenter Ants for up to 12 weeks. Kills by contact.)
Before you hire an expensive exterminator, turn to our bug barrier. This easy-to-use solution creates a barrier from roaches, ants, ticks, and more — both indoors and outside — with a powerful formula that lasts up to 18 months.*
*American cockroaches and Argentine ants, and applied on non-porous surfaces
Highlights:
Raid Max® Perimeter Protection kills a wide range of bugs and creates a consistent barrier thanks to its effective and reliable formula.
- Large 1 Gallon container provides a long-lasting solution that keeps killing for up to 18 months* (*American cockroaches and Argentine ants, and applied on non-porous surfaces)
- Also available in 1 Gallon Refill, 30 oz Trigger Starter and 30 oz Trigger Refill
- For both indoor and outdoor use – it's a roach killer, ant killer, mosquito killer, tick killer and spider killer that is also kills many other bugs, all in one spray
- Clear formula leaves no stain** or lingering odor (**Test in an inconspicuous area before applying)
- Convenient, precise and easy to use spray
- Save money and reduce plastic waste by keeping the reusable auto trigger, hose, dip tube and holster for use on compatible refills
- Perimeter Protection kills 10x more roaches than the leading competitor* (*Based on 48 hour mortality rates of German and American cockroaches in laboratory testing after five-minute exposure to a one-day aged deposit of product on hardwood plywood panels)
Raid® Max Perimeter Protection helps keep listed bugs out and leaves no odor or oily residue (see label for details).
Highlights:
- Kills ants, fleas, flies, gnats, roaches, spiders, centipedes, stink bugs and more (See label for full list)
- Leaves no odor oily residue
- For indoor and outdoor use
- Spray outdoors, around doors, windows, and along your home's foundations
- Spray indoors along floor boards, door and window frames
- Use in hard-to-reach places where long-term control is needed
- Perimeter Protection kills 10x more roaches than the leading competitor* (*Based on 48 hour mortality rates of German and American cockroaches in laboratory testing after five-minute exposure to a one-day aged deposit of product on hardwood plywood panels)
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