Centipedes are arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda. They have elongated flat bodies with one pair of legs per body segment. Centipedes are predatory and venomous, hunting small arthropods and other invertebrates. There are around 3,300 species of centipedes worldwide.
Centipedes often invade homes and become nuisance pests. Their painful bites can cause severe swelling, nausea, and dizziness in humans. This leads many homeowners to kill centipedes on sight. But is this ethical? Should we be so quick to kill these creatures?
Are centipedes dangerous to humans?
Centipede bites are painful but rarely life-threatening to humans. The severity depends on the species. Bites from larger tropical centipedes may cause intense pain, swelling, nausea, and dizziness. Smaller house centipedes inflict less severe bites.
Centipede venom contains toxins that affect pain neurons. The venom does not spread through the body or cause tissue damage. Fatalities from centipede bites are extremely rare. Only one human death has been reported, and that was a small child bitten by a giant desert centipede.
While painful, centipede bites are less dangerous than those of spiders, scorpions, or bees. They pose little threat to healthy adults. The main risks are allergic reactions or infection due to broken skin.
Do centipedes carry disease?
There is no evidence that centipedes are significant carriers of diseases that affect humans. Centipedes are not known to spread pathogens through their bites. While they can theoretically transmit bacteria from their habitats, the risk is minimal.
Centipedes prey on household pests like cockroaches, silverfish, and termites. They help control populations of insects that do spread disease. In this way, centipedes may actually benefit human health by reducing disease vectors.
Are centipedes venomous to pets?
Centipede bites can pose more danger to small pets like cats, dogs, birds, hamsters, or gerbils. The venom seems to hit smaller animals harder. Bites on sensitive areas like the snout or throat can be very dangerous.
Reactions depend on the size and species of centipede. Bites from larger tropical centipedes have killed pets in rare cases. Smaller house centipedes seldom cause life-threatening reactions. But they can make pets extremely sick.
Symptoms may include pain, swelling, numbness, disorientation, vomiting, and labored breathing. Pet owners should seek veterinary care if these symptoms occur after a confirmed or suspected centipede bite.
Do centipedes play an ecological role?
Centipedes fill an important ecological niche as predators of invertebrates. They help control populations of insects, spiders, earthworms, silverfish, and snails. Centipedes also provide food for birds, mammals, and larger predators.
If centipedes were eliminated, populations of their prey species could grow unchecked. This could have cascading impacts on food chains and ecosystem balance. While viewed as pests, centipedes are integral members of biological communities.
Should I kill centipedes on sight?
Killing individual centipedes that enter your home will provide only temporary relief. More will come to occupy the empty niche. Preventative pest control is needed to deter all centipedes.
A more ethical approach is non-lethal removal and exclusion. Capturing and releasing centipedes outdoors prevents needless killing. Pest-proofing the home and denying access discourages future invasions.
However, extermination may be necessary in severe infestations. Consult a professional exterminator about humane elimination methods focused solely on centipedes.
How can I deter centipedes humanely?
Here are some humane ways to discourage centipedes from entering and living in your home:
- Seal cracks and openings around windows, doors, pipes, and the foundation.
- Install door sweeps and weatherstripping to block gaps under doors.
- Eliminate moisture sources like leaks, standing water, and humidifiers.
- Remove piles of wood, leaves, stones, and debris near the home.
- Trim vegetation and tree branches touching the home.
- Use insecticides labeled for centipede control around likely entry points.
- Apply diatomaceous earth in crawl spaces, basements, and potential nest sites.
Conclusion
Centipedes are more nuisance than threat to humans. While frightening, their venom only causes temporary pain in most cases. Pets are at higher risk but can recover with prompt treatment.
Centipedes fill an ecological role in controlling garden and household pests. Indiscriminate killing may be less effective and ethical than exclusion and deterrence. Seal cracks, reduce moisture, and apply targeted insecticides to keep centipedes out humanely and permanently.