As suggested by the name, centipedes have many legs. However, they don’t generally have as many as 100 legs. Interestingly, they always have an odd number of legs. You may be surprised to learn that centipedes are predators. Thanks to the numerous legs they are surprisingly fast.
At the front of their body, they have two fangs that are used to inject poison into their prey. The good news is that they don’t usually see humans as prey and, even if they did, the venom-induced is too small to have any significant effect.
You won’t generally find centipedes in your home, with the exception of the house centipede. This creature is very fast and looks strange enough to induce panic in most homeowners. However, it presents no threat to humans and actually eats flies, mosquitoes, spiders, termites, cockroaches, silverfish, and other household pests. It’s a good idea to leave the house centipede alone to do its job.
The Issue In The Garden
Centipedes in your garden are a different matter. They are likely to eat plants, killing anything that you are trying to grow. They can do a surprising amount of damage.
The best thing to do is to call your local pest control company. You can click here to find them and get them to take care of the issue for you. This is the safest way to deal with the issue. They will have the right chemicals and approach to eliminate the centipedes and prevent them from returning.
This isn’t just the most effective method, it’s also the simplest and most convenient approach.
However, if you prefer to tackle the issue yourself then there are a few natural options you can employ. Just remember, if these aren’t successful in eliminating the issue you’ll still need the professionals.
Rubbing Alcohol
Pure alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, is deadly when centipedes and other bugs consume it. But, if you mix 1 cup of alcohol with a teaspoon of vegetable oil and 2 liters of water you’ll have a concoction that sticks to plant leaves. The centipedes, and other bugs, will consume the alcohol mix while attacking your plants. They will then die although they will have done a little damage to your plants.
The good news is that it won’t affect you or your pets if you consume it.
Diatomaceous Earth
This is a very common insecticide as it is made of fine crystals that penetrate the surface of bugs, causing them to dehydrate and die. In fact, diatomaceous earth consists of fossils.
Alongside sprinkling the powder around your plants you can add the earth to a gallon of water and shake well. This can then be sprayed on and around the plants, still effectively killing the pests but easier to administer.
Soap Spray
Dish soap is another great way to kill many pests. Simply add a couple of tablespoons to a jug of water and add to a spray bottle. Then spray it anywhere you’ve seen the centipedes.
The solution dries on their skin, preventing them from hydrating properly and killing them very quickly.
