Centipedes

Native to the Mediterranean, centipedes or Chilopoda Scolopendromorpha are predatory arthropods with anywhere from 15 to 177 pairs of legs, depending on the exact age and genus of the individual. Moving up to 16 inches a second, they are equally capable of evading humans or chasing down and trapping small insects before injecting them with paralytic toxins and digesting their victims alive.

Similar to spiders, centipedes have an intimidating appearance but serve as a natural form of pest control, keeping insect populations in check – examples of their natural prey include earthworms, spiders, bed bugs, cockroaches, silverfish, carpet beetles and ants. They are not harmful to most house pets and do not infest clothing or food sources.

Generally, this species lacks the strength to puncture human skin - the few who have been bitten report swelling and pain comparable to a bee sting. While larger centipedes, such as the giant desert centipede, can trigger anaphylactic shocks and sharp searing pain at the injection site, these limited exceptions exist in the Greater Toronto Area as exotic pets or zoo-kept specimens.

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When found in homes, they are often discovered in basements, damp closets and in bathrooms and other moist habitats. If abundantly present, this may indicate an underlying moisture problem that should be corrected before or after extermination. Advantage Pest Control provides complete pest management solutions in Scarborough, North York, Toronto, Whitby, and surrounding areas. Contact us today!