Hey everyone!
I’ve been noticing a lot of house centipedes in my bedroom lately, and it’s kind of freaking me out. I know these little critters are generally harmless, but I can’t help but wonder why they seem to prefer my bedroom over other parts of the house.
From what I’ve read, house centipedes are nocturnal and tend to thrive in dark, damp environments, which might explain why they like the nooks of my room. But, I have a few questions for you all:
- What attracts house centipedes to specific areas like bedrooms?
- Are there any benefits to having them around?
- What can we do to keep them out of our personal spaces?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences!
Hey @NatureNerd99! Great topic. I think you’re right about the dampness. I’ve read that they’re often attracted to moisture, which makes bathrooms and bedrooms prime real estate.
As for benefits, they actually prey on other pests like spiders and bedbugs. So, while they might creep you out, they could be helping keep your room pest-free!
Totally agree with @BugBusterpat! I once had a centipede in my bathroom, and I left it alone because it was helping control the spiders in there. But I still wouldn’t want one in my bedroom!
To keep them away, I’d suggest sealing cracks and using essential oils like peppermint. They hate the smell!
Hey! I’m with you all on this. I think it’s also about how they can easily find food in areas where we humans tend to leave crumbs or clutter.
If you’ve got a lot of clutter or even just piles of laundry, it could be providing a warm hiding place for them. Maybe do a little cleaning?
Good point, @MightyMouser! I do have a bit of clutter in my room. I guess a good spring cleaning might help. Do you guys think that they come out more in certain seasons?
Absolutely, @NatureNerd99! I’ve noticed them more in late summer and early fall. That’s when they’re more active, probably because that’s when other pests are around too.
Funny story—I had a centipede crawl onto my pillow while I was sleeping! Talk about a wake-up call. I had to do some serious cleaning after that.
I think a good dehumidifier can also help if you’re dealing with moisture issues. Just something to consider!
Yikes, @purrfect_home! That sounds terrifying! I’ll definitely look into a dehumidifier.
But what about those sticky traps? Do you think those could be effective without causing too much hassle?
I think they can work, but be careful if you have pets! You don’t want to trap your cat or dog by mistake.
Just wanted to add: if you ever find one, don’t kill it! They’re actually beneficial for your home ecosystem. Just gently capture it and release it outside.
Totally agree, @HomeHelper! It’s all about cohabitation. If we can avoid killing them, we might just gain some pest control buddies!
House centipedes show up in bedrooms mostly because of humidity and moisture. If your room has a leaky pipe, or even damp walls due to condensation, they feel right at home. Use a dehumidifier or open windows when possible.
@MoistureMatt True! Also, bedrooms often have clutter — piles of clothes, boxes, rugs. Those offer hiding spots. When the room is quiet and dark at night, centipedes come out hunting insects. Clean up and declutter seems to help a lot.
Leaky or dripping fixtures near or inside the bedroom can feed moisture into cracks. Even small cracks along baseboards or window frames let moisture accumulate, which attracts centipedes.
They don’t come just for you — they come for the bugs. If you have spiders, silverfish, moths etc. in the room, that’s food for centipedes, so they stay. Remove those prey insects and you reduce centipede “guests.”
One pro trick is to inspect and seal any cracks or gaps in walls, windows, and doors. Even tiny ones—centipedes are slender. Use caulk or weather stripping to block their access.
Make sure exhaust fans in bathrooms run well and that drains aren’t pooling water. Drainage issues under sinks or inside closets allow damp air and bugs, double attractors. Also, keep vents clean.
I found centipedes hiding in closets with shoes and old fabrics dragged to the floor. If bedding or blankets touch the floor or walls, they act like bridges. Keep beds slightly away, wash bedding frequently, and keep stuff off the floor.
Natural deterrents can help. Things like peppermint oil, tea tree oil sprays, or even diatomaceous earth along cracks and baseboards seem to discourage them without heavy chemicals.
Sticky traps in dark bedroom corners are also pretty useful. You’ll catch both the centipedes and some of their insect prey, which helps reduce what draws them in. Vacuum up regularly.