Centipedes In New Braunfels: The Best Way To Keep Them Away

If there’s one creepy pest that you don’t want to share a living space with, it’s probably the centipede. With more legs than we can count, these critters are unsettling to look at, but are they dangerous? Below you’ll find answers to this, and other questions from New Braunfels homeowners, such as: Can centipedes bite? What does a centipede look like? And last but not least, what can pest control in New Braunfels do to help with centipedes?

How To Identify Centipedes

Although there are countless types of centipedes, Texas and New Braunfels homeowners are likely to be dealing with two main types, the Texas redhead centipede and the Texas house centipede.

The Texas redhead centipede is also called the Texas giant centipede. These critters are the largest centipedes on the continent, but they only have 23 pairs of legs. Their first two body segments tend to have red coloring with black and green traces on the rest of their body.

Since they can grow up to seven inches in length, these centipedes have definitely earned their moniker as a “giant.” These pests also have large appetites, and while they’re not interested in humans, they will chow down on lizards, rodents, snakes, and toads if they can.

Texas house centipedes are even more common than the giant centipede, and, as their name suggests, they have no issue living most or even all of their life inside a building or home as long as they have access to a food source. They’re smaller than giant centipedes and often have light and dark brown coloring on their segmented bodies.

Are Centipedes In New Braunfels Dangerous?

You may have heard that centipedes are venomous, which can sound quite scary. While this is true, centipedes aren’t usually medically dangerous or deadly to people. Centipedes have venom and claw-like appendages that they can use to paralyze their prey, and occasionally humans can get in their way. If you are stung by a centipede’s pincers, you may experience pain that’s similar to a bee sting, but the pain and swelling will usually lessen over time.

Keep in mind that most centipedes aren’t aggressive. Both house centipedes and giant centipedes won’t hesitate to sting their prey, but they usually only sting humans out of self-defense. You may get stung if you accidentally step on a centipede or try to handle one without the proper protection and safety gear. 

What Attracts Centipedes To New Braunfels Homes?

Centipedes may not have a particularly dangerous sting, but they can still be painful, and most people don’t want to share their homes with them. So what causes centipedes in the house? And what attracts them to your property?

Centipedes usually enter homes because they’re after a food source. These critters often follow other types of pests, like cockroaches, spiders, rodents, and more. For this reason, homes that have rodent or cockroach infestations may attract more centipedes. And, as with other pests, homes with moisture issues can also be attractive to centipedes. It’s not unusual to find them in damp basements, attics, or garages.

In some cases, centipedes may even enter your home to escape the cold. As temperatures fall during the wintertime, your heated home can look all too inviting to these pests, especially if you’ve got an existing pest problem they can use as a food source.

How To Get Rid Of Centipedes On New Braunfels Properties

Because centipede infestations and problems often indicate an existing pest issue, these critters can be difficult to get rid of on your own. Not only do you have to deal with centipedes, but if you don’t address the underlying cause of why they’re there, they will keep coming back. When it comes to getting rid of centipedes and any pest prey that may be drawing them in, there’s only one effective solution: Gold Star Exterminators.

With a stellar reputation that dates back to the 1990s, we’re well-equipped to deal with any centipede that wanders into your New Braunfels home; we offer effective pest control treatments for centipedes near you.

If you’re finding giant centipedes, house centipedes, or some other type of centipede in your home, there’s only one thing to do—contact us today at Gold Star Exterminators to learn more about how we can eliminate the centipedes in your home and keep them from coming back.