Centipedes (apartment, hotel, to live)

[Calico Salsa]

Actually people rarely die from centipede bites. A friend of mine is a paramedic, and they will get panicked calls from visitors who think they are going to die a screaming death. The bites hurt, and will cause some painful irritation, but really you won't die. The exception is people who have extreme reactions, just like some people can die from bee stings.

As Kapalua mentioned, there are lots of different kinds of centipedes in the world. The ones found in Hawaii are not the ones that will kill you.

So it's good news - they are awful looking and will sting you and it hurts, but they won't kill you.

And bad news - they are difficult to kill, and make you squirm while you do it. You can chop them in half, and the two halves will wiggle around. The half with the head will crawl away, but will eventually die. It's a myth that the head-half will survive. Ordinary bug spray doesn't seem to have much effect. You don't want to step on them because you get the willies thinking they will grab on and climb up your leg.

I tried dropping some in a bucket of bleach & some water, and they swam around trying to get out! It was crazy.

[We're All Aliens]

When we lived in AMR Alimanu Crater, I saw ALOT of them! Every evening at sundown we saw a bunch on the sidewalks while walking around the crater. They seem to like the dryer more desert like atmosphere. I found many babies under our garden rocks too. Our neighbor had one wrapped around the base of her toilet. Needless to say it scared her!

Shake out your shoes before putting them on

[Kapalua]

The last place that I lived in, that is the place I had to seal all my windows. It was an Ohana attached to the side of the main house. The people what moved into that place in 1995, were from Californiah. And the man, got bite in the middle of the night and his wife had to take him to Maui Memorial Hospital. His arm was hurting him for days, so bad he could not go to work and his arm was swollen. I do not remember what remedy they gave him. I would think if there are people who are allergic to a bee's sting and they DIE the bee and the person can die. Who is to say that a Centipede can't kill a person? ....... we do NOT know the answer to that question. ...... I hope that I do not dream about...ugh.... centipedes tonight! I just got this strange looking one out of my house, just before I came online, I let it crawl into a plastic bag and threw it out on the patio!

[HankDfrmSD]

I have centipedes in my yard, in my compost pit, but I've only had one or two in the house in the last twenty years. I sprinkle an insecticide powder around the perimeter of the house once or twice a year. "Dursban" is one I remember, but they keep changing, as the environmentalists succeed in getting the strong ones banned. Check the labels.

Hank

[hotzcatz]

Chickens adore eating centipedes. We have had a lot less centipedes around once the girlz have been on bug patrol. They not only eat the centipedes but lay eggs, too. If you can have a few chickens around, that might help the centipede problem.

Centipedes hide under things so if stuff were kept up off the ground that would give them less hiding places.

For killing them, we usually stomp them if we are wearing slippers (don't stomp them if you are barefoot). Otherwise we use some heavy object to smush them with. Sometimes we will grab them with kitchen tongs, put them in a jar and then add water with a bit of dish soap in it. They drown faster if there is dish soap in it. I have known folks to grab them with tongs, dip them in tiki torch oil and then flame them but that was after they bit someone which may have been the reason for the extreme execution.

Some folks, though, like the centipedes since they eat other insects. I suppose if one had a banana farm, then encouraging centipedes to move in might keep other insects from eating the bananas, but around here, our bananas have to fight off invading insects on their own.

[Calico Salsa]

As I noted SOME people have extreme reactions, and could die from a centipede sting. Just like some people can die from eating peanuts. And there are really toxic centipedes, that will do more harm to more people. Those aren't in Hawaii. The centipedes found in Hawaii will not kill most people, just like the guy who's arm got all swollen - painful, bad reaction, but not death.

I only note this so that people don't freak out totally if they are stung. Just call for or go to emergency care if you are worried about it. My neighbors have been stung several times, and now consider it like getting a jellyfish rash - no fun, but no kill.

[Century25]

Originally Posted by jp03

Someone told me Hawaii get centipedes up to 6 inches long ...Is this true?

I have seen some around Tucson, but not here in Phoenix. The one that I saw had died from crawling around in lime - it was 10 or 11 inches long. Here is some data: Arizona Giant Centipede (Scolopendra heros arizonensis) - The Firefly Forest

and: arizona giant centipede - Google Images

They aren't to be seen in the older built up areas here.. but out into the deserts are many nasties..

[HIrideR6]

I caught this last week!

[HIrideR6]

had to kill da damn thing with amonia!

[mdand3boys]

I use "Home Defense" sprayed around the outside walls, around windows, doors, etc. trying to get a six inch wide barrier applied. I have found numerous dead ones lying outside, near possible entry points. Although it is supposed to last 9 months, I am applying about every 5-6 weeks. About $10 for a gallon at Home Depot.