House centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata) are common, fast-moving arthropods that occasionally enter homes. They seek shelter when outdoor conditions are unfavorable or when resources inside are plentiful. While their appearance can be unsettling due to their numerous legs and rapid movement, effective management begins with understanding what attracts them. This guide provides practical steps for homeowners to prevent centipede entry and remove existing populations through exclusion and habitat modification. Successful strategies focus on making the home environment unattractive to these moisture-loving predators.
Why Centipedes Enter Indoor Spaces
Centipedes enter homes primarily seeking moisture and food. Lacking the waxy cuticle of insects, these arthropods lose water rapidly and must inhabit areas with high relative humidity to survive. Basements, crawl spaces, and poorly ventilated bathrooms often provide the damp, cool conditions they require.
The presence of house centipedes often indicates a pre-existing pest issue. Centipedes are active, nocturnal hunters that prey on smaller household pests, including spiders, silverfish, and cockroaches. An abundant food source naturally attracts centipedes.
Centipedes enter structures through any available gap, following humidity and prey insects. Extreme weather, such as drought or heavy rains, can also force them indoors from their usual outdoor habitats.
Sealing Structural Entry Points
Physical exclusion is the most effective long-term strategy, focusing on blocking access points around the foundation and exterior envelope. Centipedes can squeeze through surprisingly small openings, requiring a thorough perimeter inspection. Use a flexible, durable caulk, such as a silicone-based formula, to seal any cracks or gaps in the foundation walls.
Pay particular attention to areas where utility lines, such as pipes, cables, and wires, penetrate the exterior walls. These zones often have unsealed spaces that act as direct entry points. Sealing around these openings with caulk or expanding foam creates a robust barrier.
All exterior doors and windows should be fitted with weatherstripping and door sweeps to eliminate gaps at the threshold. A tight-fitting door sweep prevents centipedes from slipping across the sill. Additionally, cover all foundation and attic vents with fine-mesh screening to block passage while allowing air circulation.
Eliminating Favorable Habitats
Centipedes thrive in environments with excessive moisture, making humidity control a fundamental step in prevention. Indoors, use a dehumidifier in damp areas like basements and crawl spaces to maintain relative humidity below 50%. This significantly reduces the atmospheric moisture centipedes need to survive.
Fixing plumbing leaks, even small drips, is essential because standing water creates high humidity pockets. Ensure proper ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens by using exhaust fans during and after showering or cooking to remove moist air. Store items in sealed plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes in basements to eliminate dark, damp hiding spots.
Habitat modification outdoors is equally important to keep centipedes from congregating near the foundation. Move organic debris like leaf litter, firewood stacks, and compost piles at least 20 feet away from the house perimeter. Trimming back dense vegetation and shrubs that shade the foundation allows sunlight and air to dry the soil near the structure.
Creating a dry, inhospitable zone immediately surrounding the foundation wall deters centipedes. Replace moisture-retaining mulch beds with a 6- to 12-inch band of bare soil or gravel directly against the foundation. Ensure that gutters and downspouts are clean and direct rainwater away from the foundation to prevent soil saturation.
Active Removal and Deterrence Strategies
For centipedes already present inside the home, direct removal is the quickest solution. Use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to quickly suck up any centipede sighted on walls or floors. Immediately dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister after capture to prevent the centipede from escaping.
Non-chemical traps, such as sticky traps or glue boards, can be placed along baseboards, inside cabinets, and in dark corners. These traps passively capture centipedes and other crawling insects, helping monitor the underlying pest problem. Removing prey insects simultaneously naturally starves the centipede population.
Residual insecticide dusts or sprays can be applied as a targeted treatment in inaccessible areas, such as wall voids, cracks, and crevices behind baseboards. Insecticides like Bifenthrin or Cyfluthrin provide a lasting barrier effect when applied to the home’s foundation perimeter. Applying diatomaceous earth (DE) along foundation cracks and window sills can also dehydrate centipedes that cross the fine powder.
If centipede sightings are frequent or the infestation originates from a hard-to-access structural area, consulting a professional pest control service is advisable. Professionals can use specialized equipment to apply treatments in structural voids and identify environmental issues difficult for a homeowner to resolve alone.