I hate those things and they are FAST! I waken early and would never enter my kitchen without shoes. I don't see them that often, but I am always prepared. In my house, I typically seem centipedes after a lot of rain or in the fall when the weather outside gets chilly.

This is a first for us but we have them outside in the flowerbeds. We haven't had the usual spring rains but the humidity is so bad we can't even sit outside in the mornings or evenings.

If I'm finding them in the sink then they must be elsewhere. ick ick ick!!

Probably house centipedes known as Scutigera. Roach motel type traps that work on silverfish may get some. They like earthy and damp so try to keep your basement or crawl space as dry as possible. I run a de-humidifier in mine.

Thanks Lynn, I think I'll order some now. We don't have a basement or crawl space but I'm thinking they may be coming in from under the sink where there's a tiny space between the wall and pipes, or they may come in under the back door. I have no clue!

I don't know if we just don't have centipedes in our area or just not in our house. With pets, I would be very leery of using chemicals in the house. Maybe you could just use in near the opening where you think they may be coming in, as I assume your pets could not get to that.

Keep in mind that if they are actually real centipedes, they are predators, and they are eating....something.

Here's tips on how to manage them, from Penn State.

Life History and Behavior

There are six larval instars or molts, and four post-larval instars
before the centipedes reach maturity. Females have been known to survive
for several years and produce numerous offspring (maximum of 150).
During the daytime, the centipedes inhabit dark, damp locations in the
home and come out at night to forage for prey.

House centipedes feed on silverfish, firebrats, carpet beetle larvae,
cockroaches, spiders and other small arthropods. If house centipedes are
seen frequently, this indicates that some prey arthropod is in
abundance, and may signify a greater problem then the presence of the
centipedes.

Locations within structures that have been known to provide safe harborage for house centipedes include:

• Beneath concrete slabs – the centipedes enter the house through
  expansion cracks, around sump pump openings or other breaks in slab
  integrity;
• Inside cement block walls – the centipedes can enter through uncapped
  blocks, missing mortar between blocks and around pipes where they pass
  through the walls;
• In floor drains without water traps – especially those drains that are connected to dry sumps;
• Under and in cardboard boxes that are stored on slabs;
• In any damp, cool location, such as unexcavated areas (crawl spaces) under the house.

Management

Modify the Habit

Reduction in the centipede food source is the first step in managing a
house centipede population. Determine what other types of arthropods, in
your house, are providing a meal for the centipedes by distributing
‘sticky insect traps’, also called monitors, around the house. These
monitors (and the service for identifying the specimens) can be obtained
through a pest control company.

Harborage reduction is the second most important management tactic.
Close, with appropriate fillers, cracks and crevices in concrete slabs
and block walls. Seal the covers to sump pumps with screen and caulk.
Install window screen in basement floor drains to prevent centipedes
from entering from dry sumps.

Reduce the humidity by utilizing dehumidifiers. Grade the soil around
the building to facilitate water movement away from the foundation.

Application of Pesticides

Insecticides that are effective for centipedes and labeled for use in
the home are formulated as either emulsifiable concentrates or wettable
powders that are mixed with water for application as a spray, or as
dusts.

Sprays that are available for homeowner use include many of the
synthetic pyrethroids such as cyfluthrin, deltamethrin,
lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, permethrin or tralomethrin

Dusts are either boric acid or diatomaceous earth – both which are inorganic insecticides and have very low risk to mammals.

Sprays or dusts should be applied to sites where centipedes are
suspected such as cracks and crevices in concrete slabs, block walls,
etc.

Warning

Pesticides are poisonous. Read and follow directions and safety
precautions on labels. Handle carefully and store in original labeled
containers out of the reach of children, pets, and livestock. Dispose of
empty containers right away, in a safe manner and place. Do not
contaminate forage, streams, or ponds.

Authored by: Steve Jacobs, Sr. Extension Associate
Reviewed: January 2013

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research, extension, and
resident education programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties,
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.

Visit Penn State Extension on the web: http://extension.psu.edu

Most of the time, we find them in the bathroom. We have had them on a wet mop, one came out the jets of the bathtub, etc. If found in the house, we vacuum them up with the hose. They give me the creeps but are only in the house occasionally, usually after a rain. They are predators and I figure they eat other bugs that I do not want in my house so would only spray the entire house if it was getting out of hand. I figure that those that make it to my house are just lost but I want the others outside eating ants, etc. It is rather amazing how unfazed they are when bopped with a heavy boot! They are also the reason I always wear gloves outside when playing in the dirt.

Had a few last month. First time ever. I'd see Gus sitting and staring intently at something. My little hunter.

Pest guy came about a week later and that's all she wrote. ;)

Lol Cindy! I know we have centipedes because we are two months late with spraying indoors and out. I also saw a fiddleback on the dishwasher last week.

Inside we only spray where pets and people can't walk in it. Outside we spray all around the house & entry way's. Pets stay indoors until it dries.

Lynn, I have it ordered and will do it myself then DS will do the heavy duty spraying with the stuff he uses, which is safe for pets and kids.

Oakey, does what you've been seeing match up with pictures of house centipedes? If so, I'd be tempted to leave a few! I saw one attack a spider in my house just yesterday

Remember, the inhalation of pesticide fumes are one way that they are taken in by the body. Pets and children are especially vulnerable.

Sticky traps might be more effective anyway. Generic spraying may only hit a few. Putting a pesticide dust like pyrethrin where they are actually hanging out would be more effective.

Rhizo, yes they're house centipedes. Never heard of them until the other day. I set a sticky trap and didn't have any in or under the sink this morning.

I've never smelled any fumes, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. Inside we don't spray along all the walls, just areas where we know spiders will be, and never when the grandkids are here.

No centipedes, but gack! Silverfish! Never saw one before moving in here, but was getting a number running around on the bathroom floor in the night. Party! I was diligent killing everyone I could and after about 1 1/2 years, didn't see anymore. Until about 3 weeks ago! I had just been congratulating myself that it was great that they were gone and the next day a fat one ran out and back under the hot water baseboard. And I've seen and killed one nearly every night since. Sorry - didn't mean to hijack but house critters are so disturbing. I would have nightmares with the Recluse spiders....

We had a silverfish once in a different house. I had to look them up & I read if you see one your infested with them. lol. The spray I ordered above is for silverfish also. They like the same damp environment as centipedes.

Use sticky boards too. Lots of suggestions online. Good luck to us BOTH! :)

I have house centipedes because I have silverfish. It's all my fault, too, as I had tons of books. I've reduced the number of books significantly, but I think once you have critters, it's almost impossible to get rid of all of them without bombing your house. I do have the house treated every other month which means that the critters are usually dead when I find them.

Fun, I hope that you are not right about how impossible it may be! Oakley, Thank you for the info - I'm going to have to order something. Yes, good luck to us both!!

Sorry, Indigo Rose. I hope you have better luck than I have had eradicating the critters. That said, my windows and sometimes doors are often open, so I may be laying out the welcome mat for bugs.