CENTIPEDES

CENTIPEDES

Centipedes are very common here in Southwest Florida.  Sometimes confused with millipedes do not damage food or furnishings in your home.  Centipedes are identified by having one pair of legs per body segment compared with millipedes that have two pair of legs per body segment and are usually brownish, flattened animals.  Centipedes are fast runners and grow to a length from 1 to 6 inches.  Centipedes have an appendage at the rear of their body that looks like a singer.  It is not, this appendage is designed for the Centipede to hold it's pray until it can eat it. 

Centipedes have poorly developed eyes and are most active at night.  They are active predators and feed mainly on insects and spiders.  All centipedes have venom glands to immobilize their prey.  The jaws of the smaller local species cannot penetrate human skin; however the larger species may inflict painful bites.  This is how they catch their food source which is spiders, small live insects and their larva.

Centipedes live humid damp dark places such as under stones, leaf litter, logs, bark, ground cover and debris.  If they invade your home the Centipede could be found most likely in closets, bathrooms, and kitchen areas.

Centipedes usually lay 15 to 55 eggs clustered together in the soil but sometimes they are laid singly.  The eggs hatch soon after they are deposited.  The female will usually guard the newly hatched young.  Young Centipedes closely resemble the adult and require 3 years to mature.  Centipedes are rather long-lived and individuals may live up to 6 years.

Collier Pest Control's Collier Complete treatment will control invading Centipedes from you home and family. Call, 239-455-4300, for a complete explanation on our Collier Complete and Centipedes or any of our services and look us up on our web site at www.collierpestcontrol.com  Remember, Florida does not have to be shared with insects.

Posted via OnFast - http://www.OnFast.com