What Are These Long Hairy Bugs In My Mt. Juliet Home?

If you've never been exposed to a centipede in your life, it can be a little jarring to see one stuck to the wall of your Mt. Juliet home. You may even wonder what on earth that hairy bug is. Well, first of all, those aren't hairs. Those are legs. A centipede has several pairs of legs that shoot out from its sides, each leg bending at the knee, above its body. If you're new to Mt. Juliet, you should know that the centipede is a common household pest here. It can be found sticking to many spots in a room when you turn on the lights. Centipedes can also be found scurrying across the floor to hide under a towel, a box, or some other object on the floor. Fortunately, they look scarier than they actually are. While they do have poison jaws which they use to inject venom into creatures they capture and eat, you're not likely to be bitten by a house centipede. They're also not considered to be mechanical vectors for harmful bacteria. They're just disgusting. Really disgusting. Here are a few more things you should know about them.

Centipedes are drawn to moisture. If you have damp ground next to your home, it is likely that centipedes will come in close to your foundation walls. When they do, it is possible for them to find many entry points that you're not aware of. Controlling moisture and sealing entry points are two important ways to resist unwanted centipede entry.

Moisture Control

• Inspect your perimeter. If you see areas of dampness, assess what may be causing that dampness and address any issues you find.
• Gutters are a common contributing factor to damp ground near foundation walls. Check your gutters to make sure they're not obstructed or broken.
• Leaky spigots, hoses, or pipes, can lead to damp ground. Check all your plumbing and make sure everything is sealed.

Sealing Entry Points

• Check your windows for any gaps that can allow centipedes to get in. Pay close attention to the caulking.
• Fix damaged or ripped screens.
• Inspect the weather stripping on your door and seal things up.

The best way to control centipedes is to have routine pest control treatment for your property. At All-American Pest Control, we offer Perimeter PLUS Pest Control for coverage of over 47 different pests, including centipedes. If you need help keeping pests out of your Mt. Juliet home, reach out to us. We're here to help.