Centipede Control in West Palm Beach, FL

FAQ

How can I prevent centipedes?

• Remove decaying organic matter such as leaf debris on your property to make the area less habitable to these pests.
• Water your lawn in the morning. Watering in the afternoon or at night will cause water to sit on your property longer, which will make the area more hospitable to centipedes.
• Make sure gutters are clear of debris and directing rainwater away from your home’s foundation.
• If possible, replace wood mulch with another material like crushed rock that is less attractive to centipedes.
• Remove fallen trees, logs, and tree stumps from your yard.
• Store trash cans and recycling bins up off of the ground.
• Seal the cracks, gaps, and holes on the exterior of your home.
• Place door sweeps on all exterior doors - especially sliding glass doors.
• Inside, use dehumidifiers to lower humidity levels.
• Try not to apply mulch too close to your foundation. Much like leaf litter, mulch is a prime habitat for centipedes. We recommend keeping mulch at least a few inches away from the foundation of your home.

What time of year are centipedes most common in West Palm Beach?

Centipede season peaks in West Palm Beach during warm summer months (between June and August). But due to the area's warm and humid climate, you can find centipedes in your home throughout the year.

What types of centipedes are in West Palm Beach?

There are an estimated 8,000 species of centipede around the world, most of which have not been closely studied or thoroughly documented. Thankfully, we do not have this large of a variety here in West Palm Beach, but rather only two species that commonly invade homes.

• House Centipedes: A house centipede is 1-1 ½ inches in length, has 15 pairs of legs, a long, flat, yellowish-brown body, and dark stripes on its legs and center mass.
• Florida Blue Centipedes: The Florida blue centipede grows to be about three inches in length, is bluish-gray, and has distinguished pincher-like fangs and two long antennae.

Do I need to prepare my home for centipede control services?

No, we do not require any sort of preparation for centipede control services. 

Do centipedes bite?

Centipedes will bite you. Their bites are quite painful (think bee sting), but in general, their venom is not strong enough to elicit a reaction in people.

How do I get rid of centipedes in my home?

If you’ve done the preventative measures to keep centipedes out of your home, you can try applying natural products for centipede control like tea tree oil, peppermint oil, or cayenne pepper. Just note that tea tree oil is not safe for pets and should be avoided if you have pets in your home.

Otherwise, peppermint oil and cayenne pepper are 100% pet friendly pest control ingredients and are effective in repelling centipedes in West Palm Beach.