How to quickly get rid of centipedes in your house and apartment?
Most owners of private houses and apartments are faced with the problem of the appearance of pests in their homes. Most of the "tenants" are of no use and look very gross. Centipedes are considered the best example of such a neighborhood - they are not very useful, and just one look at this animal will make anyone shudder. Let's see how to quickly and effectively get rid of centipedes in a living room with minimal effort.
Description and characteristics of centipedes
The centipede is an animal belonging to the class of invertebrates, which is divided into four types of arthropods. People confuse centipedes with insects because of their repulsive appearance, but that's not the case. The size of centipedes varies by species. One variety reaches 35 centimeters in length, while the other is only 2 millimeters.
The body consists of:
- a head divided into segments;
- torso;
- a large number of legs.
To note! The number of members in centipedes ranges from 10 to 750.
Varieties
Centipedes have many varieties found throughout the world.Among the common centipedes on the territory of the Russian Federation there are:
- flycatcher;
- centipede;
- drupes;
- kivsyakov.
Scolopendra
They live in regions with a mild and warm climate. They are large in size and are considered aggressive compared to other members of the species. They hunt :
- insects;
- lizards;
- rodents;
- frogs;
- snake.
When bitten, a powerful and extremely painful poison is released. For a person, it is not fatal, but the bite site will hurt for 1-2 days.
flycatcher
This centipede is most commonly found in living quarters, seeking out:
- lice or fleas;
- spiders;
- flies;
- cockroaches.
Places with high humidity are chosen for living, which is why they are often found in bathrooms, toilets and basements. The size of the flycatcher varies from 3.5 to 6 centimeters.
Kivsyak
Kivsyakov are rarely found in houses and apartments, as they prefer to settle in forests. Adult centipedes, depending on the species, reach a length of 2 to 25 centimeters. Segments of their body merge into a single durable shell, which reliably protects centipedes from physical impacts.
By themselves, they are extremely slow and passive, and in case of danger they curl up in a ring, giving off an unpleasant pungent aroma.
Drupe
The drupe has a flat and small body, the length of which rarely exceeds 3 centimeters. It is found both in nature and in living quarters, where it actively hunts small insects. It poses no danger to humans and some people even keep it as a pet.
Reasons for the appearance
Certain types of centipedes, such as the drupe or the flycatcher, often inhabit houses and apartments, causing a lot of trouble for residents. The reasons for the appearance are:
- the onset of cold on the street;
- the presence of an abundant fodder base;
- possibility of breeding in complete safety.
In the flat
Centipedes enter apartments from basements, attics or entryways. If you do not get rid of it in time, the arthropod will give abundant offspring, which will begin to terrorize not only you, but also your neighbors.
Flats attract flycatchers because of:
- favorable living conditions;
- Security.
In a private house
Millipedes sneak into private homes from the street, where they are found in great abundance. Since the area of the house is larger than that of the apartment, it is difficult to find an uninvited guest, and he lives for a long time for his own pleasure. Most often, centipede raids occur in the fall, when it becomes less comfortable and safe outdoors. For places of residence, gaps in the floor, cracks and other secluded corners are selected.
Friend or enemy
Centipedes are neutral to humans. They pose no danger in the form of disease or material damage, but they are not very useful either. The only benefit attributed to the emergence of these moths is the cleaning of the apartment and surroundings from cockroaches and bedbugs.
The main problem due to which people try to get rid of centipedes as quickly as possible is their disgusting appearance. It is not to the liking of all insect lovers, let alone ordinary citizens.
How to get rid of
There are several ways to get rid of centipedes:
- with the help of folk remedies;
- use chemicals;
- call pest controllers who will do the job with a 100% guarantee.
Traditional methods
The safest and cheapest option that saves the house from unwanted guests. Folk remedies are less effective than specialized chemicals, but pose less danger to human health. Let's take a look at the most popular methods, the use of which allows you to achieve the desired result.
Removal of excess moisture
One of the main conditions, the presence of which is necessary for the comfortable life of centipedes, is the increased humidity of the environment. There are only a few representatives of this species that are able to live for a long time in dry rooms. To remove excess moisture, you will need:
- eliminate all leaks in the house;
- ventilate the room well;
- clean regularly.
Freeze the house
An extreme but effective method used only as a last resort. Its essence lies in the fact that most arthropods cannot withstand freezing temperatures. At an ambient temperature of -5 oh and below the centipedes and their offspring die. If you want to use this method, be aware that:
- it takes at least 2 days to freeze the part;
- precautions should be taken to ensure the safety of batteries and water supply systems.
Boric acid
Boric acid is sold in all pharmacies in powder or liquid form. It is safe for humans and animals, but it is best to follow safety rules when working with it. It is enough to treat the places of appearance of arthropods with a substance - after a few days there will be no traces of them.
Red pepper
Red pepper scares centipedes well, forcing them to leave an inhospitable home. Using the method is not recommended if there are children or pets in the apartment. Pepper can enter the eyes or the respiratory tract, which is dangerous for health.
Pyrethrum
Feverfew is a Dalmatian chamomile powder that has an excellent repellent effect. It is enough to scatter it in the probable places where the centipedes enter the room, and they will not dare to come to visit you. The powder does not harm the human body, very popular with exterminators.
diatom powder
Consists of crushed diatom shells. The result is flour, the particles of which have sharp edges. For humans, they have no harmful effect, and insects and other parasites seriously injure their unprotected abdomen, after which they die. Spread the powder on the places where the centipedes appear and after a while you will forget about their existence.
Professional remedies
Not everyone likes folk methods, because they do not always give 100% effect in the fight against parasites. If you prefer radical methods and are not afraid of side effects, professional remedies will help you destroy centipedes.
Glue traps
Glue traps are relatively useful when dealing with centipedes, as they can throw stuck limbs in order to save their lives. Lost legs will grow back later, and the money spent on acquiring traps cannot be refunded.
Medilis-Zip
A chemical preparation for the fight against small parasites, based on cypermethrin. It destroys the shell of arthropods and if it gets into the stomach it paralyzes the nervous system. To get rid of centipedes, it is enough to apply the drug near the places of their appearance.Has a long period of action.
World original
A popular German insect repellent and other insect repellent that has not lost its relevance for 15 years. Available in gel form. It has a long-lasting effect, so an arthropod that has eaten the drug can run for several more days.
To note! The German brand is so popular at home and abroad that there are many fakes, thanks to which dishonest businessmen try to make money. When buying, pay attention to the packaging and quality of the product.
clean house
A series of Clean House products, which has a quick and powerful effect, will help get rid of annoying centipedes from an apartment. Thanks to the complex effect, it destroys not only individuals, but also their nests, completely removing pests from the room.
The disadvantages include an unpleasant smell of the drug and the need to leave the treated room for at least 12 hours.
Raid
A popular means of combating pests in Russia, which allows you to quickly and effectively clean the house from their presence. It does not have an unpleasant odor, which greatly facilitates the process of processing the room. At the end of the disinfestation procedure, the room needs long-term ventilation.
Dichlorvos Neo
Has a deadly effect on centipedes, the effect lasts for several weeks after treatment. Odorless. When working with Dichlorvos, do not forget to wear a respirator and rubber gloves to protect your health.
fight
Aerosol pest control agent for arthropods. Thanks to the special nozzle, Combat is easy to spray in hard-to-reach places, which increases its effect.
Raptor
A world-renowned brand that offers a wide variety of insect repellent products, including centipedes.
It occupies a leading position in the Russian market and enjoys great popularity among buyers.
Mosquito
Another popular brand that brings quality and cheap products to market. The company strives to strike a balance between safety and efficiency. It shows itself well when fighting centipedes and other arthropods.
Phenaxine
Due to the content of active substances in the composition of the drug, it fights not only against insects and cockroaches, but also against centipedes. It comes in powder form, ready to use.
Pencils and gels
They have a barrier effect, preventing centipedes from entering the room. It is enough to process the places of possible penetration, and the centipedes will go around the room.
TO HAVE
An insect repellent, which, when used correctly, can eliminate even greater problems.The substance is in contact, it must be sprayed in places where centipedes often appear.
Karbofos
It paralyzes centipedes by entering their body through the stomach or by direct contact. Continuous use is not recommended, as parasites develop immunity.
It is not recommended to spray in places where there are ponds or aquariums with fish.
Mechanical impact
Centipedes rarely gather in large herds, sometimes it is enough to kill a few individuals to clear the room of them. Arm yourself with a broom or a stick, and when a centipede appears, simply crush it. The method is effective, but impractical, since centipedes are agile creatures.
Call specialists
The best option if you have enough money for it.Experts will correctly assess the scale of the threat and select the optimal set of measures to deal with it. A call to specialists is enough to forget about the problem of centipedes for a long time.
Preventative measures
Preventive measures to prevent centipedes from appearing in the house include:
- regular cleaning of premises;
- the destruction of insects that serve as food for centipedes;
- periodic examinations of hard-to-reach places in the apartment, checking them for the appearance of centipedes.