Learning how to keep centipedes out of your bed means understanding what they like to eat. These creatures are excellent hunters. They prefer dark, damp places and hunt for other small insects such as spiders, cockroaches, bed bugs, and silverfish.
First, find out what kind of centipede you have in your home. Different species require different solutions when it comes to removal. For example, house centipedes are generally harmless and can actually be beneficial since they prey on other small insects. On the other hand, giant centipedes (like S. gigantea or S. subspinipes); are more dangerous and require immediate removal since they can bite you.
Once you know what kind of centipede you have in your home, it’s time to take action. Below we will cover tips to help keep centipedes out of your bed.
What Are House Centipedes?
The house centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata) will eat many other problematic insects in your home. A house centipede will feed on silverfish, bed bugs, carpet beetle larvae, cockroaches, spiders, and more. Yes, you heard that right; a house centipede can eat bed bugs! ? But they aren’t exemplary for bed bug control because a house centipede does not ONLY feed on bed bugs.
The first documented case of a house centipede was in Pennsylvania in the 1800s. These predators will bite and inject venom into their prey.
One unique feature is that adult females have a last back leg that is twice their body size. The house centipede goes through a larval stage where their legs increase in number during each molt. Another unique feature is that they have a long lifespan. One house centipede can live up to 7 years!
Will House Centipedes Crawl in Your Bed?
A house centipede can crawl into your bed if you have an active arthropod infestation like bed bugs or carpet beetles. They can grip tiny pores and irregularities in a wall or structure to climb straight up. Keep in mind that house centipedes prefer moist and dark places, so to keep them out of your bed, take the following measure below.
Tips for How to Keep Centipedes Out of Your Bed
Declutter
House centipedes are known to hide in clutter. This is one of the best tips for how to keep centipedes out of your bed. So, the best way to keep them out of your bed is to ensure a clutter-free environment.
Clutter-free means eliminating anything that might provide shelter or hiding spots for centipedes. You can start by removing piles of boxes and books and sealing all the cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings.
Vacuum
Vacuuming regularly can help to reduce the number of centipedes in your bedroom, as they like to hide in dark and dusty places. Ensure you also clean under furniture and even around window sills, as centipedes may be lurking here too.
Vacuuming will help eliminate other pests, like fleas, carpet beetles, and bed bugs. If you are dealing with a bed bug infestation, then be sure to use a good vacuum cleaner for bed bugs.
Learn more about “What Do Centipedes Eat?”
Use Natural Repellents
You can use several natural repellants to keep centipedes away from your bed. Cinnamon, peppermint oil, and citrus are all known to repel centipedes. Ensure you place these items near entry points in the bedroom, such as windows and doors. You’ll also want to use them on your bed legs. The Wondercide product works excellently for this purpose.
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Use Calk and Sealer Around Your Moldings
Centipedes are one of the more persistent insect pests that can enter your home, but calk and sealer provide a surprisingly effective barrier. First, use calk around windows, doors, and other major entry points.
The calk should form an even line around the moldings, blocking gaps that would be big enough for centipedes to squeeze through. A sealer and calk create a sturdy barrier and provide additional protection against centipedes.
For extra peace of mind, remember to reapply the calk and sealer every year to ensure they stay firmly in place! Not allowing an easy access point into your home will reduce the number of centipedes that can get on your bed!
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Install Screens
One way to ensure centipedes stay out of your bed is to install window screens. Tight-fitting screens, like the magnetic ones below, will stop them from entering through open windows and prevent other critters, such as spiders, flies, and mosquitoes making their way in too.
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Clean and Declutter Your Basement to Help Keep Centipedes Out of Your Bed
Cleaning and decluttering your basement is essential to keep centipedes out of your bedroom. Clean up any piles of clutter – including cardboard boxes, old furniture, and stacks of clothes – that may provide cover from where these pesky critters can hide.
Also, remember to block off potential entry points they could crawl through, such as gaps around doors or windows. Taking these preventative measures won’t just help keep centipedes out of your bed; it’ll also give you some extra peace of mind knowing that you’ve taken the necessary steps to protect your home!
Use a Dehumidifier in Your Bedroom and Basement
Having too much moisture in your bedroom and basement can do more than make the space uncomfortable; it can also attract unwanted pests like springtails and centipedes. If you’ve ever dealt with a springtail problem, you’ll know that springtails eat mold and mildew, and the solution is to reduce the moisture in your home.
Centipedes, like springtails, love damp settings, but with a dehumidifier, you can help keep them out of your home by creating a dry environment. So this is imperative for how to keep centipedes out of your bed. Dehumidifiers reduce the air’s humidity and help make your bedroom and basement feel comfortable again.
With their superior technology, you can ensure that your home remains dry, clean, and pest-free. So if you want to stay safe from the creepy crawlies while enjoying a fresh atmosphere, get yourself a dehumidifier for your bedroom and basement today!
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Steam and Sanitize your Floors
Using a steamer, like the Dupray Neat Steamer below, is an essential tool for keeping your home clean. The steamer will eliminate food residue and insect feces that will attract pests.
Making sure there are no crumbs or food will reduce the chances of roaches setting up shop. Eliminating cockroaches will, in turn, eliminate centipedes since centipedes feed on insects.
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Use Traps to Keep Centipedes Out of Your Bed
A surefire way to keep centipedes out of your bed is by using traps. Sticky traps are inexpensive and easy to use, so you don’t need any particular expertise in pest control to set them up.
Place the trap near suspicious areas where you’ve seen centipedes or where they’re likely to hide. Sticky traps can also help you monitor your home to see what kinds of pests you have roaming around.
Check the traps once a week, replace them when needed, and dispose of the centipedes properly! Use this simple tactic to help protect yourself from unexpected crawlies in your bed.
Keep in mind that if you have pets, you’ll need to place these in areas where your pets do not go.
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How Likely is It for a Centipede to Go in Your Bed?
There are a few reasons why a centipede may go into your bed:
- They are wanderers and patrol your house looking for prey.
- You have an active bed bug infestation, and the centipede is feasting on the bed bugs.
- If you have a carpet beetle issue and are seeing bed worms, then there is more of a chance that you will see centipedes in your bed. The centipedes prey on carpet beetle larvae.
- Sometimes if you have a significant roach infestation in your home, some roaches may end up in your bed. We have done many pest inspections and found cockroaches in our client’s bed. Centipede hunts for food and insects are one of their favorite sources.
What to Do if You Find a Centipede in Your Bed
The first thing is to try to catch it. If you have a cup nearby, you can scoop it up and release it outdoors. If you feel uncomfortable catching the centipede, you may need to kill it. Since centipedes are beneficial house insects, we do not recommend killing them.
The safest option is to call a pest control company that can correctly identify the bug, confirm if it’s dangerous, and take steps to eliminate any potential infestations.
Can Centipedes Climb?
Yes, a centipede can climb walls, ceilings, beds, and furniture. They are excellent climbers and use tiny hooks at the end of their legs to cling to surfaces.
That’s why it’s essential to take the abovementioned precautions to keep them in check.
Can A Centipede Bite You While You Are Sleeping?
They prey on small arthropods and insects like roaches, bed bugs, and spiders – not humans. A house centipede will typically not bite you when you are sleeping. In some rare cases, however, the centipede may feel threatened and bite you if it gets trapped between your skin and sheets or blankets.
However, if you live in a tropical climate, like the island of St. Kitts, you may get a bite from one of the prevalent centipedes like S. gigantea or S. subspinipes. It’s best to seek medical help if one of these venomous centipedes bites you.
If you notice any strange bites or marks on your body after a good night’s sleep, it would be wise to seek medical attention to be sure.
Final Thoughts on Keeping Centipedes Out of Your Bed
Centipedes may not always be welcome houseguests, but they do play an essential role in the environment by controlling pest populations. That said, it’s still important to take steps to keep them out of your bed.