Centipedes are nocturnal arthropods that seek hidden, protected environments. They are commonly found in places offering specific conditions for their survival and predatory habits.
Characteristics of Centipede Hiding Spots
Centipedes seek environments offering darkness, moisture, and undisturbed conditions. These factors are important for their survival, as their exoskeletons make them prone to water loss. They require dampness for hydration. Dark, secluded spots provide shelter from predators during the day, and proximity to prey like small insects and spiders.
Common Indoor Hiding Places
Indoors, centipedes seek areas mimicking damp, dark outdoor conditions. Basements are frequent hiding spots due to their moisture and undisturbed nature. Crawl spaces also provide secluded, humid environments.
Bathrooms, particularly under sinks or near floor drains, are attractive due to consistent moisture. Laundry rooms, with potential for leaks and high humidity, offer suitable conditions.
Cluttered areas like storage boxes in garages or attics provide ample hiding places. Centipedes can also be found in cracks and crevices in walls or foundations, offering concealment and moisture access.
Common Outdoor Hiding Places
Outdoors, centipedes reside in moist, shaded environments providing shelter and food. They are found under rocks, logs, and dense leaf litter, where moisture is retained and small invertebrates are abundant.
Mulch layers and garden debris also create damp, protected habitats. Firewood piles near a home serve as attractive hiding spots, offering cover and prey.
Centipedes thrive in damp soil near a home’s foundation, especially if cool and humid. During extreme weather, like prolonged dry spells or heavy rains, outdoor populations may be driven indoors. This often leads them into homes through small entry points.
Discouraging Centipedes from Hiding in Your Home
To make a home less appealing to centipedes, reducing moisture is a primary step. This involves promptly repairing any leaky pipes, faucets, or outdoor spigots. Utilizing dehumidifiers in basements, crawl spaces, and other humid areas can significantly lower moisture levels. Ensuring proper ventilation in bathrooms and attics also helps to reduce excess humidity.
Eliminating clutter both inside and directly around the home’s foundation removes many potential hiding spots. Indoors, this means regularly tidying basements, storage areas, and garages, preventing large accumulations of boxes or debris.
Outdoors, removing leaf piles, grass clippings, and storing firewood away from the house’s foundation minimizes available shelter. Sealing entry points is another effective measure; caulking cracks and gaps in foundations, walls, around pipes, and repairing damaged screens or weatherstripping around doors and windows can prevent them from entering.