In Canada, there are several different species of centipedes (Scutigère) and centipedes. If these two arthropods have common traits, they are very different in their physical appearances.
None of them are dangerous to the human species. On the contrary, centipedes rid us of plant debris and organic matter while centipedes feed on harmful insects: flies, carpet beetles, aphids, cockroaches, woodlice etc.
However, centipedes are venomous insects. When we handle them, they can sting us even if their bites remain benign. Their stingers cannot pierce human skin.
The only real problem with centipedes and centipedes is their repulsive appearance that frightens more than one. It is therefore not pleasant to have them at home.
What does centipede look like? What does the centipede or millipede look like? How to distinguish them? What is their respective life cycle? How can we prevent them from invading us? If they did, what means is the Montreal exterminator using to get rid of it?
So many questions to which Alerte Animal provides us with professional answers.
| Nom français | Scutigère, Scutigère véloce |
| Nom anglais | House Centipede |
| Nom latin | Scutigera coleoptrata |
| Classe | Chilopodes |
| Ordre | Scutigeromorpha |
| Famille | Scutigéridés |
What is the appearance of centipedes and 1000 legs?
Centipedes and centipedes are both part of the myriapod family , “myria” meaning several, and “podes” meaning legs. They are not insects but arthropods.
Their body is made up of two distinct parts: the head and the trunk. The head bears a pair of antennae, eyes and mandibles; the trunk is composed of a variable number of segments.
Centipedes should not be confused with centipedes (millipedes).
Centipedes are part of the order Chilopods , while centipedes are part of the order Diplopods .
In centipedes, each of the segments has a pair of legs, except the first whose pair of appendages is actually a pair of venom hooks called forcipules.
Centipedes, on the other hand, have no venomous hooks and have two pairs of legs per segment. The said legs are shorter than those of the centipede. Centipedes therefore move less quickly.
The centipede is flattened dorso-ventrally. It is reddish brown in color. The millipede or centipede has a cylindrical body. It is dark brown in color.
The centipede advances in a straight line. The millipede moves by undulating.
Reproduction and life cycles of these myriapods
In centipedes, in the fall and spring, after a bridal dance, the male abandons on the floor a spermatophore containing his semen. By going through this, the female will introduce it into her genitals.
After laying, the eggs are laid on the floor. The majority of centipede species have, at birth, an appearance similar to that of adults. Some, such as scutigeres, have fewer legs at birth than adults: 7 instead of 15; and they are less segmented.
As their many moults, new segments and legs are added to the old ones, all gradually lengthen. It will take them 3 years to reach maturity.
As for centipedes, in the fall and spring, males go in search of females. They use their sense of smell to find them.
Once it has found an available female, the male millipede clings to her to fertilize her with its gonopods or breeding legs.
Shortly after, the female will lay a dozen to a hundred eggs. She lays them in the ground after making a shelter or cocoon to collect them.
From each egg will emerge a whitish embryo enclosed in an envelope. It will remain there for 2 days before hatching as a larva with the appearance of an adult centipede. The only difference is that this larva has only six legs and 8 rings on average.
Like the centipede, the centipede will also have to undergo many moults to obtain new segments, new legs, new articles with antennae, and reach maturity.
Appeler René Gélinas Votre exterminateur local, Expérience et intégrité dans la gestion parasitaire
Tel 514 830 2819
Hantavirus, definition and mode of transmission
Hantavirus is a severe lung syndrome caused by a virus. It is secreted in the urine, feces and saliva of infected animals. Most often these are rodents. When humans come into direct or indirect contact with these secretions, the virus is transmitted to them. Ditto when they are bitten by infected rodents.
However, the virus is not transmitted from human to human, only from animal to human. This type of disease is called zoonoses because they can only be transmitted to humans through an animal. It has been found that domestic animals (apart from the domestic rat) and livestock cannot contract hantavirus so there is every reason to believe that only rodents can carry it.
Symptoms of hantavirus
Being a lung disease, one of the characteristic symptoms of hantavirus is difficulty breathing. At the beginning of the disease, the infected person begins to feel fever, chills, headache and muscle pain.
It is about two weeks after the appearance of the first symptoms that they are usually accompanied by a feeling of shortness of breath. Nevertheless, this last manifestation of the disease can be observed after two days as after six weeks; it depends on the organism of the individual.
Hantavirus can also lead to kidney disease or infection. And although they are rare and very few people are prone to them, there is currently no treatment to combat these ailments. It is therefore better to be careful not to contract them.
How are centipedes harmful?
Once in our homes, centipedes and centipedes invade damp places :
- basement
- bathrooms,
- around drains, etc.
They are also found in
- crevices,
- cracks,
- behind the skirting boards,
- under the bark of firewood,
- under the stones,
- under organic debris, etc.
Almost all species of centipedes feed on many harmful insects : fleas, carpet attagens, ants, silverfish, flies, cockroaches, woodlice etc.
As for centipedes or millipedes, they feed mainly on plant debris, organic matter and plants.
Centipedes do not pose any danger to human health: they do not bite, they do not bite, they do not transmit diseases.
This is also the case for centipedes. The only difference is that they have venom glands under their jaws and can sting us when we handle them.
Their bites do us nothing serious because their stingers cannot pierce human skin. In the worst case, the symptoms are comparable to those of a bee sting and disappear after a few hours. In addition, centipedes avoid humans.
The only problem with centipedes and centipedes is that they look scary, repulsive and fearful.
10 exterminator tips to avoid a centipede infestation
Centipedes and centipedes enter your home only when they are attracted by moisture and food. To prevent these arthropods from invading us, it is enough to solve the problem of moisture, the problem of dirt, and the invasion of harmful insects.
Therefore
- Drain the soil of your home and its surroundings. By doing so, you will remove excess moisture and create an unfavorable environment for the proliferation of centipedes and centipedes
- Eliminate their potential shelters and remove centipede food sources: plant debris, organic matter, plants, etc.
- Also remove food sources from centipedes by exterminating all insects.
- Plug all cracks and openings,
- Carefully inspect firewood before bringing it into the house.
- Do not allow water to accumulate near the foundation or in the garage,
- Let the soil dry between waterings,
- For better water drainage, use coarse mulch,
- Prune and clean plants along the foundation. You will then improve the air circulation around your home,
- Apply diatomaceous earth around the plants. This insecticide will prevent centipedes from approaching it.
If the woodlice and centipede infestation is significant, contact a professional exterminator!
The solutions of the professional exterminator
The exterminator can get rid of these two insects in several ways:
- It will drain the floor of your home, ventilate the basement and other damp places, and use a dehumidifier as needed. Its objective: to remove excess moisture, desiccation being fatal to these arthropods.
- He will use repellents to make them leave,
- He will use pesticides such as diatomaceous earth. When centipedes and centipedes come into contact with this poison, they will become dehydrated and die. Do not worry, the exterminator will use such pesticides to protect your health and that of your animals.
But beware, there are many amateurs in this trade. Know how to recognize a truly professional exterminator. The latter can be recognized by:
- His permit from the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development with the words CD5: Extermination,
- Its certified professional technicians in extermination,
- His methodical work: first of all, he quickly landed on the scene of the invasion. He then identifies the sources of the invasion, measures the importance and offers you the appropriate treatment.
After treatment, it informs you about the precautions to take to avoid in the future the massive attack of centipedes and centipedes.
- It uses unidentified vehicles and remains discreet in all interventions.
- It offers you a written guarantee on the effectiveness of its treatment against the attack of centipedes and centipedes.
And you, have centipedes and centipedes ever invaded your building? How did you get rid of it? Tell us in the comments below.
