House centipede control in Winnipeg
Treatment of harbourage and entry points, plus a moisture assessment — a centipede population is a signal that other insects are present.
- Size
- 25–38 mm body, with much longer legs
- Look for
- Fifteen pairs of long banded legs, very fast
- Active
- Night, in damp areas
- Found in
- Basements, crawl spaces, floor drains, utility rooms
- What it means
- A predator — its presence indicates other insects
- Price
- Quoted on inspection
- Follow-up
- On request
- Category
- Crawling insects
- Availability
- Same-day
What you're dealing with
House centipedes are predators. They eat silverfish, spiders, cockroach nymphs and other small insects, which means a visible population usually indicates an available prey population somewhere in the building.
They need humidity and shelter, so they concentrate in basements, crawl spaces, utility rooms and around floor drains.
Confirm itSigns to look for
- Fast, many-legged insects in basements and bathrooms at night
- Sightings around floor drains, sump pits and utility areas
- Presence of other insects, which is the underlying reason they are there
How we treat it
- 01Inspection for the prey population, which is the real driver
- 02Crack-and-crevice treatment of harbourage in basements and utility areas
- 03Perimeter and entry-point application at grade level
- 04Moisture and ventilation assessment for damp areas
- 05Return visit on request
How to prepare
- Clear stored items off basement floors and away from walls
- Address any standing water or condensation you are aware of
- Note where you see them most and at what time
What to expect
- Visit oneInspection, then treatment of every harbourage area we find. You get a written record of what was applied and where.
- The days afterSightings decline within a couple of weeks, and further as the prey population is reduced.
- Follow-upOn request — we return whenever the situation calls for it.
Why we treat it this way
Why a centipede problem is usually a different problem
House centipedes are predators. They are in your basement because there is something there to eat — silverfish, spiders, small insects — and because it is damp enough to suit them. Treating the centipedes without addressing the prey population and the humidity means they come back for the same reasons.
Why we address moisture as the primary lever
Centipedes desiccate easily and cannot persist in a dry space. Reducing basement humidity removes the condition they depend on, which is more durable than any residual application.
Why interior treatment stays targeted
These are void-dwelling animals that emerge at night. Crack, void and perimeter treatment reaches them where they shelter; broadcast application over open basement floor mostly does not.
What makes it worse
These are the things we most often arrive to find already done. None of them are unreasonable instincts — they just backfire for reasons that are not obvious.
Treating centipedes and ignoring what they are eating
The prey population is the reason they are there. Solve the silverfish or the general insect pressure and the centipedes follow it out.
Assuming they are dangerous to people
House centipedes are not a meaningful medical concern. They are startling, fast and unsettling — which is a real reason to want them gone, but not a health one.
Running a dehumidifier only in summer
Basement humidity in Winnipeg spikes at spring melt as much as in July. Seasonal-only dehumidification leaves a window open.
What's different here
House centipedes are effectively an indicator species in Winnipeg homes: finding them consistently points to a damp basement with an established insect population, most often silverfish. Older homes with stone or unsealed concrete foundations and limited basement ventilation are where they turn up reliably.
What actually happens, week by week
Not certain it's house centipedes? Send a photo to info@apcexterminators.com and we'll identify it. If it doesn't need treating, we'll tell you that instead of selling you a visit.
Common questions
Are they dangerous?
No. They can bite defensively if handled, which is rare and comparable to a minor sting.
Should I be worried about what they're eating?
It is worth investigating. A healthy centipede population implies a healthy insect population.
Why do they show up in the bathtub?
They fall in and cannot climb the smooth sides. It reflects where they hunt, not where they nest.
Often found alongside this
Dealing with this right now?
Licensed technicians, fixed pricing quoted up front, same-day availability across Winnipeg.