If you ask anyone to describe a centipede, they'll tell you that they are the scariest, grossest, and most malicious venom-filled critters, always waiting to bite anyone they come across.
Well, most of that is true, but centipedes are a particularly passive pest. Meaning they rarely bite humans unless when cornered and in self-defense.
These unsightly pests are indeed filled with venom, but they'd rather spare the venom for hunting prey like small insects than waste it on humans. After all, centipede venom is not powerful enough to harm your health.
Naturally, most people are afraid of these disgusting bugs, and their first response when they spot them is to smoosh them.
The sight of these creepy pests climbing on your ceiling is frightening enough, but the thought of them crawling into your bed and attacking you while asleep is both disgusting and devastating!
So, can centipedes climb? It is a commonly asked question by most homeowners. This article will answer this question and teach you how to keep centipedes out of your bed.
Can Centipedes Climb Walls and Ceilings?
Yes. Centipedes will climb up walls as long as they are not too smooth.
Just like spiders, bed bugs and ants are able to scale up walls, centipedes have legs whose ends are modified as sharp claw-like structures, allowing them to hook into the tiniest cracks and crevices on walls and other surfaces.
Even the perfect walls that appear to have a super smooth surface often have flaws like tiny crevices and bumps that are pretty hard to see with your naked eyes.
The perfectly modified centipede legs are able to effortlessly grab onto these minute flaws and propel their small bodies upwards toward their targeted destination.
There are countable foolproof walls in very few homes that make it impossible for centipedes and other pests to climb. But as a general principle, if you have textured walls in the house, on cabinets and even ceilings, house centipedes will be able to climb- quite easily, in fact.
Can Centipedes Climb Into My Bed?
Much like climbing walls, centipedes will also climb into your bed rather easily. But no, their intention is not to attack or harm you in any way.
While the thought of sharing your sheets with these multi-legged creatures can send shivers down your spine, it's good to note that they'll possibly just enjoy the warmth of your comfy bed and won't bite unless provoked to.
How do centipedes climb into bed? Again, if your bed has textured surfaces, the bugs will quite easily climb up. Additionally, centipedes find it quite easy to climb up your bed clothing like bed sheets or any other pieces of fabric.
Why Do Centipedes Crawl Into My Bed?
Centipedes can be drawn to your bed by many factors. For instance, these natural pest controllers will be attracted to your bed if there's a bed bug infestation. Centipedes feed on small insects like bed bugs and spiders.
These perfect hunters are also attracted to the warmth of your body and bed.
What To Do When Centipedes Invade Your Bed At Night?
It's hard to imagine anything else as frightening as a centipede crawling into your bed while you're fast asleep. And while you may be tempted to rapidly jump out of bed and find a newspaper to slap the pest dead, pest experts advise otherwise.
Because centipedes have no business attacking or even biting you, the most important thing to do should you spot a centipede in your bed at night is gently get out of the bed and suck it up with a vacuum base.
3 simplest Ways To Get Rid Of Centipedes From Your Bed For Good
1. Install fans in your bedroom
Centipedes are highly attracted to moisture. If your home is not well maintained, for instance, you have defects like breakages in pipes or cracks in the roofing; then it's more than likely that water will penetrate your bedroom. In this case, the most effective thing to do is invite a trained expert to fix the defects and prevent water from penetrating your bedroom.
Additionally, a considerable amount of moisture can build up in the bedroom resulting from breathing and sweating. By installing fans, you allow sufficient airflow, forcing the damp moisture to escape through the window.
Bedroom fans prevent excessive air accumulation, rendering your bedroom unattractive to centipedes and a whole range of other pests.
2. Seal cracks and crevices
Cracks and crevices in your bedroom wall, window frames, and foundation are perfect entry points for centipedes and other critters.
Inspect your bedroom properly and seal even the tiniest cracks and smallest holes. Any type of sealant will plug up the crevices and keep those intruders away.
3. Treat with a powerful insecticide.
Suppose you have a centipede infestation? Then the best bug sprays will do the trick.
Though you're strongly advised to call a pest control company near me to do a thorough inspection as centipedes can be challenging to track down and exterminate, an insecticide, when used correctly, will provide you with effective results.
Note that pesticides chemicals are toxic and can pose you to serious health risks. Therefore, you want to read the instructions on the product labeling and strictly follow them.
The Best Ways To Keep Centipedes Out Of Your House
For many people, these alien-looking creatures can be a bane in their homes. So it's not surprising that you want to get rid of centipedes from your house as soon as you spot one.
That's great because we have provided you with the best ways to get rid of centipedes from your house below:
Use a dehumidifier
As noted earlier, house centipedes like to harbor in places with high moisture content and higher humidity. Similar to using a fan, a dehumidifier will dry out the moisture and drop the humidity. This will make your home unfavorable to centipedes, and they'll look for another pleasant place to hang out.
But note that pests are quite intelligent. And they'll eventually find a way around your dehumidifier. For instance, they can move from one room to another. So this method may not be completely reliable, and you'd need help from an expert if you're looking to exterminate centipedes and keep them away for good.
Call a pest control professional.
Centipedes can be quite difficult to track down and get rid of on your own. Luckily, pest control experts are highly trained in the ways and tricks of centipedes. Once they visit your home upon your request, they will do a thorough inspection of your entire property to determine the nature and level of the infestation.
Depending on the findings, they will then customize an effective and safe course of treatment that will get rid of centipedes for good and prevent chances of re-infestations.