We have all probably seen a centipede on occasion and heard them mentioned in conversations, but what do you really know about them? The centipede is a bit of a frightening sight to see with all their legs and skinny black body writhing around. They come in all kinds of sizes but the majority of them are small and not really too much of a problem for Austin home and business owners. They can however, come much bigger into our lives sometimes like the Giant Centipede that was found in a Texas State Park recently. The one that was spotted is called a redheaded centipede and can grow to be as long as 8 inches! These are probably not the kind that most people will ever come across but a house centipede is still a nasty sight.
A-Tex Pest Management has prepared a quick guide to what you need to know:
– They take care of their legs. I think if you had 5 pairs of legs you probably would spend some time taking care of them too. After the centipede has devoured a meal, it stops to take time to clean each leg one at a time. It will curl up and use its mouth to clean from top to bottom of each leg. If for some reason the little critter has to stop and move to a safer spot it will start right where it left off.
– Late Night Snacker. The Centipede will feed at night making it a nocturnal hunter. That is why they are spotted normally on the way down the stairs when its dark and you are a little sleepy. They are actually a good pest to have around sometimes since they feed on other bugs and insects like silverfish and spiders. They attack their prey by almost rearing up and pushing off with their back legs. They are also pretty fast, so they can be hard to catch and get rid of.
– House Centipedes are not harmful. The house centipede that most of us will come in contact with some time or another is not harmful. They can cause some allergies if one has walked on you, but that is the worst they can do. They are scarier to look at than they harm they can cause you.
– Some species do bite. Some centipede species use a pair of hollow legs adapted with claws, to bite into the skin when they walk on you. These pincer-like claws can also cause small puncture wounds and blisters and when they bite, they inject venom that is stored in their internal glands. Although these centipede bites may be painful, they are rarely fatal.
If you have seen any centipedes or any other pests, whether during your midnight snack or any other time, you can call A-Tex Pest Management for a free consultation and appointment to have service set up today!