Demon Centipedes

[Evan!]

I don't know if it's just the exceptionally rainy year, but this is the first time these things have been in my house. They're only about 1" long, they don't really cause any trouble, I just don't like centipedes crawling around my house (mainly the basement). Anyone else have these little bastards invading their place? With a newborn, there's no way I'm bug-bombing...and I think they're just coming in under the back door anyway...AGH!

 

[marubozo]

Can't answer your question, but we had a big ass centipede for the first time in our house a few weeks ago. Saw it up on the ceiling in the living room and it was a good 3-4 inches long. I don't mind bugs in the house, but that was just too much.

 

[Bokonon]

We used to get them all the time back when I lived in Michigan. Seemed like they would always crawl out when you least expect it and freak you out.

Glad I don't have to deal with them out here

 

[Borisbbadd]

We don't have them, but we have Grasshoppers from hell !!!!

Not in the house, but outside they are eating all the flowers we planted this spring.
Flower boxes look like sh#t anymore.

We have a ton of Earwigs also, and they do get into the house.

 

[marubozo]

Earwigs are Satan's spawn.

 

[david_42]

I've got the 3 inch-long black ones. They love compost and moldy hay bales. Mainly outside, but once in a while they show up inside.

 

[snazzy]

Strange this is the first time they have invaded my space as well. I have found places that have literally thousands of them. Like under a barrel or in the sand next to the foundation.

Looked them up and read quite a bit and the seem harmless butt you are right they are just a little icky.

 

[HenryHill]

I spray malathion around the yard and especially around all the foundations of the buildings, spring and fall. I get ants and spiders and that sorta thing in the summer, and then it's those horrible little elder bug things invading in the fall. Also helps with mosquitoes.

The only good bug is a dead bug.

 

[menschmaschine]

Are you talking about these (house centipedes)? They like moist environments and are harmless (don't bite), but are creepy as hell and I'm sure they carry plenty of bacteria that could cause problems. The good thing is that they are predators for other insects and don't eat your food/crumbs. I believe they also shed their legs as a defense mechanism... leaving stray, twitching legs as you try to swat at them.

 

[bull8042]

Yeah, don't spray for them with a newborn in the house. Just mash them....a 90 minute mash with some 2-row would be a good start.
Get it? mash.... you know, I mean, not with a shoe.... like, ummm....mash, you know... like we do when we brew.... with 2-row....
Hmmm, I think I need another pain pill..... I'll be back.

 

[Rick500]

I get those in the house occasionally. I toss them outside if I can get to them before the cats do. They eat other insects so I give 'em a pass.

 

[Austin_]

I can send some gigantic flying roaches yalls way if you don't find the centipedes are sufficient.

 

[Rick500]

Giant cockroaches: One thing I don't miss about Florida.

 

[Evan!]

Are you talking about these (house centipedes)? They like moist environments and are harmless (don't bite), but are creepy as hell and I'm sure they carry plenty of bacteria that could cause problems. The good thing is that they are predators for other insects and don't eat your food/crumbs. I believe they also shed their legs as a defense mechanism... leaving stray, twitching legs as you try to swat at them.

God no, I hate those things even more. No, these are very compact, less than 1/16" wide, and you'd mistake them for a little twig if they were straightened out and not moving...

 

[bull8042]

God no, I hate those things even more. No, these are very compact, less than 1/16" wide, and you'd mistake them for a little twig if they were straightened out and not moving...

We have had the ones you are talking about here in our area too Evan. We had a nice wet spring followed by several weeks of dry weather. I think they are wandering in looking for moisture. We also get the earwigs, the little wigglers from hell that look like they have pinchers on their tail. They come up out of the drains.
Get some indoor/outdoor insecticide and spray it OUTSIDE around your foundation and sills. I find that that helps quite a bit.

 

[Evan!]

We have had the ones you are talking about here in our area too Evan. We had a nice wet spring followed by several weeks of dry weather. I think they are wandering in looking for moisture. We also get the earwigs, the little wigglers from hell that look like they have pinchers on their tail. They come up out of the drains.
Get some indoor/outdoor insecticide and spray it OUTSIDE around your foundation and sills. I find that that helps quite a bit.

Great idea...do you know if that stuff is dog-safe?

 

[Catfish]

Flying roaches, and these motherf'ers, stinging and grow to 8 inches.

 

[bull8042]

Great idea...do you know if that stuff is dog-safe?

Evan, I use Ortho Home Defense Max. It is suitable for indoor/outdoor use and comes with its own sprayer on the gallon size. The label says people and pets may reenter as soon as it dries.
Our dog doesn't seem to be attracted to it in any way.
I got mine at Lowe's I think. Here are the details - Ortho Home Defense MAX Perimeter & Indoor Insect Killer - Scotts Miracle-Gro

 

[HenryHill]

Malathion is used for garden plants and is safe at label direction strength.

 

[JohnnyO]

Flying roaches, and these motherf'ers, stinging and grow to 8 inches.View attachment 12122

YEESH!!

*Note to Self: Avoid Japan.

We bought our house back in April and have had a lot of the ones that Mensch posted up. They are really creepy and really fast. If you get aclose look at them moving, it's actually pretty awesome to see their legs going. Even more awesome to hear their legs crunch when you kill them.

Yeah, so I'm pretty much a 12 year old. Wanna fight about it?

 

[Evan!]

Flying roaches, and these motherf'ers, stinging and grow to 8 inches.View attachment 12122

I'm just glad I don't live in a time where Euphoberia is roaming the earth. A meter long? Jeezus.

This is bad enough...

It grows to over 12" long and snatches bats in midflight...

 

[HenryHill]

Flying roaches, and these motherf'ers, stinging and grow to 8 inches.

No wonder they have dragons in their culture.

 

[USM_Eagle]

Those big guys are interesting centipedes and have some cool parasites.

 

[uglygoat]

i let the spiders in the basement live on condition they eat the centipedes and mice that make their way in. anything past say the kitchen gets escorted off the premises and summarily executed.

 

[bull8042]

i let the spiders in the basement live on condition they eat the centipedes and mice that make their way in. anything past say the kitchen gets escorted off the premises and summarily executed.

I don't want to alarm you or anything. But if you have spiders that can be expected to eat the mice, I think you have more to worry about than the mice!

 

[Evan!]

You have spiders in your basement that eat mice? Jesus christ...what are they, goliath tarantulas?

 

[bull8042]

OH CRAP! Me and Evan are thinking alike! I gotta get off these pain pills.

 

[menschmaschine]

Nerdy biology tidbit...

Many times in nature, it's the smaller, less ominous critters that have more lethal venom. The smaller ones evolved more powerful venom to disable prey, while the large ones have their size to rely on. Scorpions are a great example... the smaller species have much more potent venom than the huge, scary looking ones.

 

[Evan!]

Nerdy biology tidbit...

Many times in nature, it's the smaller, less ominous critters that have more lethal venom. The smaller ones evolved more powerful venom to disable prey, while the large ones have their size to rely on. Scorpions are a great example... the smaller species have much more potent venom than the huge, scary looking ones.

nerdlinger!

All the more reason to kill ALL spiders in your house, if you don't know what they are.

 

[menschmaschine]

All the more reason to kill ALL spiders in your house, if you don't know what they are.

Yep, and don't forget to check your shoes every morning for scorpions!

And a new one I just learned... check your lawn prior to mowing for yellow jackets nests! (Different thread.)