What do centipedes need to survive

The heads of centipedes have a pair of long and sensitive antennae covered with dense hairs. They have small mouths and have large, claw-like structures that contain a venom gland. In fact, some centipedes have compound eyes containing as many as optical units, while others have a cluster of simple eyes on each side of the hear or no eyes.

There are two representative species. The usual pest species is the common house centipede Scutigera coleoptrata Linnaeus. Its body is grayish yellow with three longitudinal dark stripes.

The house centipede has 15 pairs of long legs. The antennae and last pair of legs are longer than its body. Their legs and antennae are shorter than those of the house centipede.

Centipedes typically leave no direct signs of an infestation other than the sighting of the pest itself. Head-on photo of a house centipede. Photo of a large centipede on a leaf. The most effective way to prevent a centipede infestation is to reduce areas of moisture in and around your home.

Remove piles of leaves and grass clippings, logs, stones and rocks on your property. Store firewood off the ground. Provide adequate ventilation in basements, attics and crawl spaces. Seal holes, cracks and gaps that enable outdoor centipedes to get inside a home. If a centipede is found indoors, you can get rid of it with a vacuum. However, you should contact a licensed pest professional if you suspect an infestation.

If handled roughly, some larger species can inflict a painful bite that can break human skin and cause pain and swelling, similar to a bee sting. The large Scolopendra can inflict a very painful bite and should be handled with great care.

A inch plastic tub with a secured lid and perforated top could work. However, be warned that it is possible for centipedes to chew through these tubs. Keep your centipede at a reasonable temperature.

Most centipedes can be kept at a safe temperature of roughly 80 degrees or higher. You can use a heating pad, night bulbs or ceramic heaters to make sure their habitat is warm enough. You should also worry about keeping the humidity up for your centipede, however, since each of these methods could dry out your cage. You can use a dish filled with water to keep their habitat humid enough. It will need to be regularly filled to maintain proper humidity.

Light your centipede's habitat to suit its nocturnal state. Centipedes are nocturnal creatures, so they do not require special lighting. If you want to observe the centipede during the evening, you can get a nocturnal light, like those used for amphibians. Your centipede's habitat should not be brightly lit. During the evening hours, their cage should be kept in a dimly lit area.

To observe your centipede during the evening, get a nocturnal light that gives off heat without much light. You can see the centipede, but it will still think it's night in the habitat. Provide healthy substrate for your centipede. Centipedes like to burrow during the day.

It's important to have substrate that is deep enough for your centipede to burrow underneath. They prefer to be hidden away during the daytime hours. You can use a variety of materials for your substrate.

It should be able to retain moisture and tolerate the centipede's burrowing. You can potting compost, peat moss, or soil for the substrate. Peat moss is the best since it prevents mold growth due to the habitat's high humidity.

Method 2. Feed your centipede properly. Centipedes like to eat live prey. Keep a regular supply of different live creatures for your pet centipede. They are fascinating to watch, since they are very quick and assertive when hunting.

If there is any food left in their habitat after feeding, remove it with forceps from the habitat. Your centipede can be injured if it has to fight its prey.

Don't give your centipede any live animals bigger than half the size of the centipede. Feed your centipede insects. Smaller centipedes eat small insects, including fruit flies, carpet beetle larvae, and small crickets. As your centipede gets larger, you can give them cockroaches, adult crickets, and silverfish. Your centipede needs to be able to safely hunt live prey. Insects give to the centipede should be smaller than your centipede.

Do not feed your pet centipede wild insects. Wild insects could have been in contact with pesticides that could be lethal to your centipede. Purchase small insects at a local feed or pet store. Give your centipedes soft-bodied prey. Earthworms, slugs, and snails can work as live prey for your centipede. Be careful that the soft-bodied prey has not been exposed to harmful chemicals. Centipedes should be able to handle soft-bodied prey easily.

Only the smallest centipedes could have problems hunting an earthworm. Buy soft-bodied prey at a feed or pet store. You can usually get earthworms at a local fishing or tackle shop. Provide your centipede with arachnids. Centipedes love to feed on live prey, and arachnids spiders are a favorite treat. Your centipede will use its venom to paralyze the spider before feeding on it. Be sure any arachnid you provide your centipede is not venomous. Venomous spiders may hurt or even kill centipedes.

Feed your centipede small animals. Very large centipedes can eat small animals, including mice, lizards, frogs, birds, snakes, or bats. The process is done before winter, and all centipedes spend the winter as adults, not as eggs or larvae. Where they go depends on their overall environment. Common places for centipedes to find winter shelter include under rocks, in cracks in building walls and under the bark of old logs.

House centipedes live in houses all of their lives, though the people sharing the home with them may never see them. They normally shelter in damp places in the home, including under basement slabs, under or between stacks of cardboard boxes, in bathrooms and under the kitchen sink.