Centipede Prevention Tips For New Jersey Homeowners

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If you have comb-like bugs that visit you during the warm months of the year, you are probably aware that those are centipedes. But that might be all you know about them. If so, you've come to the right place. Here's everything you need to know about centipedes in New Jersey.

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The House Centipede

In our region, the centipede that gets into homes is aptly named the house centipede. If you know anything about Latin, this name may throw you off. Centi or centum, in Latin, is a measurement of one hundred. Pede, in Latin, means foot. You might recognize that root word in other English words like pedestrian, pedestal, or millipede. But a centipede doesn't have 100 feet. Its has 15 pairs, which are on the tips of thin legs that shoot out from the sides of the centipede. It also has two antennae that look like they could be legs. Running down its tan back are dark brown lines and on its legs are dark brown bands. They can be as small as ⅛ of an inch and sometimes as large as 1 1/2 inches long.

No. They won't hurt your home and they won't damage your belongings. They don't eat or tunnel through wood like termites, and they don't feed on the materials your belongings are made of. They eat spiders, silverfish, cockroaches, moths, crickets and even bed bugs. This is why some people consider them a benefit and don't concern themselves with them. But they won't keep your home pest-free. They lack the training and dedication of a licensed pest professional.

Centipedes need lots of moisture to survive. They often get into homes during the warm months of the year to escape the drying effects of the hot sun and when there are periods of little or no rain outside. They may also get in just because they can. If you have entry points, these bugs will take advantage of them quickly. When they get in, they will be drawn to areas of your home that are high in humidity, such as your bathrooms, cellar, or basement. This attraction to high humidity and moist areas puts the centipede in the category of moisture pest, and moisture pests often get into homes that have wood rot caused by moisture. These bugs may be warning you about a serious problem that should be addressed.

Hire a New Jersey pest control company

When you hire a licensed pest professional, you may be able to bypass a lot of the hard work. A quality pest control program will make your exterior resistant to pest activity through routine treatments, removal of spider webs, and pest maintenance. If there is a vulnerability you need to address, your pest control technician will let you know.

If you're ready to be done with centipedes crawling around in your New Jersey home, reach out to Arrow Pest Control. We can guide you toward an effective pest control plan that will keep those bugs out and not break your budget doing it.

Home Protection Program

Service consists of the elimination of your current pest or rodent problem, complemented by both interior and exterior year-round protection of your home, which is inclusive of three seasonal visits. The program covers your entire property including attics, mailboxes, playsets, sheds, and fences.
Pests targeted with Arrow’s Home Protection Plan services include ants (excluding carpenter ants, pharaoh ants and acrobatic), bees, boxelder bugs, carpenter bees(no higher than 10 ft), carpet beetles, centipedes, cicada killers, clover mites, crickets, digger bees, earwigs, fabric & paper pests, fleas (inside only), ground beetles, hornets, mice, pillbugs, millipedes, rats, roaches, silverfish, sowbugs, spiders, springtails, stored product pests, and wasps.

*If you have a pool house that requires service, pricing would increase based upon the size of the structure.

Client Testimonials

Jeff K.

Farmingdale, NJ

‟My family has used Arrow since the early 80's. In our new home we use them as well. Jason came yesterday and did a great job. Thanks again for your great service to our community!”