Far from the commonest bug in nature, yet nearly everyone is sure to have seen a centipede in the flesh one time or other. They have a reputation for being venomous and can move quite rapidly for their size. The sort most commonly found indoors, grow to between one and two inches long, and have a painful bite which resembles a bee sting. If you’ve seen one of these unpleasant little fellows in your house, you may be interested in some information on centipedes.

10 Centipede Facts

100 Legs? More like 101 Pairs of legs

While their name means “100 legs,” they tend to have more. Though the number varies from one individual to the next, they never have exactly 100.

Vulnerable to Dehydration

Every living thing has its deficits as well as its assets. Centipedes sacrifice the waxy coating that most arthropods have in order to gain speed of movement. This, makes our leggy friends more prone to losing moisture. For preventive pest control, if you should see these guys around, infestations are more likely to center around kitchen sinks, and bathrooms.

One Pair Per Segment

Centipedes always have one pair of legs for each body segment. Millipedes usually have two or three pairs per segment. That’s the easiest way to tell them apart.

Older = Longer

As they age, they grow more and more legs, adding a new pair with each successive molting. So if you know the lifespan of a given species, you may be able to guess its age by the number of legs it has.

All of them are Predators

Whatever you hear about the ones that live in North America, if you see one, it is a predator, and it is venomous. The worst can make a person very ill, and the mildest ones can give you a nasty sting.

A Very Long Lifespan

Most centipedes can live 2 to 3 years, with some species able to live as long as five. They are fairly durable, and rely on survivability over numbers. It goes to show how formidable they really are.

They Possess Impressive Regeneration Abilities

Few creatures are able to regrow lost limbs, but the centipede is one that can. They can regrow entire limbs, though this ability stops short at more central structures of the body.

They are Caring Parents

Any biologist worth his salt will tell you that a creature with a long lifespan, and fewer offspring, will devote more resources to nurturing its young. Mother centipedes will wrap their bodies around the eggs until they hatch.

They are Sprinters

Centipedes rely on speed to capture prey. So if you think you have to to get the fly-swatter, think again.

Poison Claws

Centipedes are the only arthropods with venomous claws rather than a poisonous bite. The legs of the centipede’s first segment are not for walking, they are toxin-laced daggers.

Are you tired of dealing with centipedes? Contact Preventive Pest Control for affordable, fast and effective centipede control. Call us today!