Latin: Chilopoda
In Denmark, it is typically the Geophilus carpophagus – or the Lithobius forficatus, that you find indoors.
Appearance
The centipede has a flat, thin, and long body. The body is divided into joints, with the legs placed on the sides of the joints. The centipede resembles a millipede, but the two animals are different from each other. A millipede has two pairs of legs on each joint, while a centipede only has one pair of legs on each joint.
The centipede can be up to 7 cm long, depending on the species.
Biology and behavior
The centipede is a predator. During the day, the animal hides while hunting at night. The hunt is for small animals, where the centipede kills the prey via powerful poisonous hooks. The poisonous hooks are located on the front joint of the centipede. Even though the poison is deadly to the small animals, the poison in the danish species of centipede is not harmful for humans.
The Lithobius forficatus is located between moist and dead leaves as well as under bark, tiles, and stones. They often live-in compost piles with dead leaves. They can stray into the house during the night when they are hunting for prey.
The Geophilus carpophagus is about four to five centimeters long and only a few mm wide. Due to the long and thin body, the Geophilus carpophagus is destined to thrive in cavities and passages in the soil. If they are irritated, it will leek a luminous liquid, in the dark that liquid looks like smoldering threads.
It is especially during spring and fall; the centipede appears in great number inside houses. In fact, in some cases there may be talk of an actual immigration, which most often occurs due to heavy rainfall because the Geophilus carpophagus will be driven out of the ground in case of heavy rainfall.
Damage
Although some find centipede disgusting in their appearance, they are harmless to houses. They do not gnaw on wood or similar materials. However, the animal may still be an annoyance. They are especially annoying if they appear in large numbers, which is why many choose to control and prevent immigration of the centipede.
In older properties, centipede can typically survive for a long time due to the humid hiding places. For this reason, the animals can settle down for good. Especially older half-timbered houses with thatched roof creates good living conditions for this species and can make them noticeable in great numbers. The Geophilus carpophagus can live in the straw or in the moss on the roof, which is why this species can be annoying this property.
Prevention and control
Centipedes are extremely sensitive to drying out. Therefore, they can only survive indoors if they stay in damp basements. To prevent the centipedes inside houses, it is important to have a thoroughly dry house without many escape options.
If they do occur in large numbers inside, it is first and foremost important to figure out why. Humid conditions in the house, bark chips or many dead leaves along the house if typical reasons to the migration. To solve the problem on a long-term basis, the cause must be investigated so that the centipedes does not return. Controlling the centipedes indoors, use insect powder along panels as well as in cracks and fissures in all the rooms where they have appeared the most. Be aware that neither pets nor children should touch the powder, and it should not be spread around the house. Remember to follow the instructions of the insecticide, to achieve the best result. Those instructions are typically on the label of the product.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)