The Creepy Pest You're Likely To Find In Your Home In The Winter

Even though the spooky season is over, you might still get the shivers over a certain uninvited guest. Have you ever spotted a centipede zooming across the floor when you least expected it? Not a sight for the faint of heart. House centipedes are easy to recognize, especially with their 15 pairs of squirmy legs. Although summer is typically the active time for insects, centipedes are one of many overwintering pests that like to hide inside your home. It's common for them to seek shelter indoors when the temperatures drop — meaning you might run into them while you're trying to stay cozy.

Centipedes are arthropods that like to feast on things like spiders, beetles, cockroaches, and moths. Their diet mainly consists of all the little insects you probably don't want in your home. They gravitate toward dark, humidity-filled spots in the house like below the sink, in basements and garages, or behind walls if moisture is present. Fortunately, they are nighttime predators that keep to themselves during the day. Although having centipedes in your house might not seem like too big of a deal to some, it could be an indicator that you have other unwanted pests attracting them. Yikes!

Since centipedes love moisture, you can start by lowering the humidity in your home. Search for leaky faucets, pipes, and any puddles of water that might be inviting to them. If you have an attic, basement, or crawl space, be sure to check there, too. Make any necessary fixes if possible. You will also want to seal entry points to keep them from coming inside. Look for cracks and openings around your home, both inside and out, and fill them in or fix them. This will keep other critters out as well.

Another way to make your home less appealing to centipedes is to eliminate their food source. In other words, address any bug problems you might be experiencing. While some people may want to find their own solution, keep in mind that there are some common pests you're better off letting the pros exterminate. After tackling the problem, be aware of things that often lure bugs and critters in. Clean up crumbs, leftover foods, and avoid leaving pet food out overnight. Also, properly seal your garbage cans.

If you do spot one of these multi-legged creatures, don't panic. House centipedes prefer to stay away from humans, and they are not dangerous. But they can still deliver a small defensive bite if you try and pick one up. You can instead attempt to get rid of a centipede by covering it with a container, sliding thick paper underneath, and releasing it outside.