Few things can make your skin crawl like seeing a centipede scurrying across your floor out of your peripheral vision, and you may have heard that salt is a surefire way to get rid of them. Some folks believe sprinkling salt on centipedes will suck the moisture out of them — leading to a quick death by dehydration, sort of like what baking soda or diatomaceous earth does to ants and other arthropods. In reality, centipedes have a unique physiology that, to some extent, allows them to tolerate salt. So, while salt can cause them a little bit of discomfort, chances of death aren’t looking good. On top of that, centipedes can cover a lot of territory pretty darn fast, so if they feel threatened while you’re tossing salt at them, you can expect that they’ll easily outmaneuver you.
Centipedes are like your home’s own little pest bouncers or like low-maintenance roomies if you’re not squeamish. They chow down on roaches, flies, termites, moths, and silverfish, and they don’t set up nests, spin webs, spread diseases, or wreck your home. That being said, some, but not all, species are poisonous. So, if you’re dealing with an infestation, call in the professionals sooner rather than later.
It’s all about preventative maintenance
If you’re dealing with a centipede infestation, you need to start from the beginning. First off, you’ll want to find out how these creepy crawlers are sneaking into your home and locate the spots they’re living in. Centipedes are most active at night, and they are often drawn to areas with high moisture levels. They lay their eggs in these damp environments, along with spots behind baseboards or beneath bark on firewood. So, to fend off centipedes, start by tackling moisture issues since they’re drawn to damp spots.
If you have a basement, put a dehumidifier with a timer down there to make it less hospitable. Fix any plumbing leaks and clean your gutters. (The latter pulls double duty for Winter home prep work.) Check door sweeps, frames, and window seals for gaps because those sneaky centipedes can slip through even the tiniest openings. Just use some caulk and sealant to seal up gaps around doors, windows, and wherever else they might sneak in. Lastly, remember to declutter and keep your space clean. Centipedes are predatory and love munching on unsuspecting bugs, so if you’ve got other pests you’re dealing with, you’ll need to address those first.
