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For many it is almost a horror idea: centipedes or millipedes in the apartment. Even if the specimens living in this country cannot be dangerous to humans, they still trigger a certain disgust. You just don't want the multi-footed crawlers in your four walls. The animals are quite useful. Their presence most likely indicates other problems with insects in the house. They should be worked on as a matter of priority.
Millipedes in the apartment
Centipedes and their centipede relatives belong to the so-called Arthropoda, i.e. they are arthropods. Although there are also highly venomous species of these animals in the tropics, those found in northern Europe are largely harmless. The problem is that their multiple legs and nimble locomotion trigger certain fears. These insects are not interested in humans. Although they are always on the hunt for prey in a building, they are only interested in other insects. The main items on their menu are:
- Beetle
- be crazy
- ants
- cockroaches
- silverfish
If centipedes or centipedes appear in an apartment, this is a clear indication that some of the insects listed above can be found there. Since all arthropods have a very high need for food, it must even be assumed that a relatively large number of spiders or silverfish have nested there. Only then will the apartment be of interest to the hunters. If you want to get rid of these uninvited guests, you have to fight the cause of their presence and not them themselves.
notice: Millipedes and centipedes never appear in large flocks. Usually there are only one or two animals that nest in your own four walls and go hunting there.
kill centipedes
Since Arthropoda can only be found sporadically in closed rooms, one could of course come up with the idea of killing the animals as soon as they come into view. You can easily be killed with a shoe, for example. Basically, that's not a good idea. Strictly speaking, they are beneficial insects that eat exactly what we generally like to call vermin. So you're almost like an animal exterminator doing your job for free. So the best thing to do is try to catch a centipede inside your home with a glass and a piece of paper, and then get it outside again - as far away from the building you live in as possible.
notice: Arthropods are amazingly fast and lively, making them difficult to catch. You have to act very quickly and at the same time make sure that you don't injure yourself in the rush.
Drive away centipedes
If you want to drive away the uninvited guests, you have to spoil their stay. In other words: without a sufficiently large number of prey animals and without an environment that is at least generally warm and humid, the animals will soon look for another hunting ground. Home remedies from grandma's days usually do relatively little to combat the so-called vermin in the house. This is especially true in the case of a very heavy infestation. Ant traps from specialist shops often help with ants. Silverfish can usually only be fought with chemical aids. If silverfish and cockroaches appear in very large numbers, one often has no choice but to call the exterminator, who then eliminates them. It is then generally better to do everything possible to ensure that these animals do not spread to you in the first place. As is so often the case, prevention is better than cure.
Prevent centipedes
The prey animals of millipedes and centipedes usually spread out in the apartment for two reasons: It is nice and warm inside and there is also plenty of food. Therefore, one should observe a few basic rules, which can certainly be understood as preventive measures:
- Never leave food or leftovers lying around in the open
- Always put kitchen waste in a lockable container
- pay great attention to hygiene and wipe away even the smallest food
- ventilate well even in winter
- Seal cracks and gaps, especially in the masonry and on the window
These measures do not give you a 100% guarantee, but they drastically reduce the likelihood that bugs will nest in you. Most of them are also very easy to implement. In any case, getting rid of the animals is much more difficult and often quite complicated.
indoor climate
Millipedes and centipedes are originally from the tropics. The species native to us therefore also love a humid and warm climate. This is also the reason why millipedes or centipedes are often found in the bathroom, bedroom or kitchen. The living conditions for these animals are simply right here. This is precisely why it is fundamentally very important to always ventilate the bathroom and bedroom well. Ventilation is something of a guarantee that arthropods will no longer feel at home in these rooms and will eventually flee again. It also ensures a better indoor climate, which is good for us and prevents mold growth. Incidentally, mold is something that attracts many pests almost magically.
notice: Colloquially, a centipede is mentioned again and again. However, the correct term in German is a millipede, so it does not need the letter "l".