# Spiders and centipedes
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 28, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809 "2005-09-28T04:58:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/1 "2005-09-28T04:58:43Z")
I moved in to a house in July, and in this house, when it rains, centipedes move in. Yes, CENTIPEDES, not millipedes thank you. Here is a [picture](http://bugguide.net/node/view/5590/bgimage). I feel like I want to go wash my hands, just posting it.
I have a handy-dandy little spray bottle of stuff that keeps the spiders at bay. When one splats a centipede, it leaves quite a nasty brown mark on the wall. Could I kill them with this spray instead? Do you think it would work?
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### Author:  [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/2 "2005-09-28T07:22:42Z")
I’ve always thought centipedes were pretty, in a creepy sort of way, the way their legs sort of ripple as they move across the bathtub, sending me screaming from the room.
I’d say any bug spray would kill 'em, but given that they’re predatory, you might just be opening your home up for invasion by the nasty critters they eat. I mean, what if you kill the centipedes and end up with earwigs?
Earwigs!!! AAAAAIIIIIIIIIYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEE!!!
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/3 "2005-09-28T07:29:27Z")
Most bug sprays will kill most arthropods. My recommendation though, would be to use a powerful vacuum cleaner (of course one where you don’t need to get too closely involved with the collected contents when emptying it).
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### Author:  [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/4 "2005-09-28T11:26:52Z")
Get a cat.
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### Author:  [@Duggy\_Fizzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duggy_Fizzle)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/5 "2005-09-28T13:11:08Z")
Those are called “House Centipedes.” The first time I ever saw them was after I moved into my house. I did some research on the internet and they eat other bugs and spiders; so they should leave you alone. As far as killing them, its not going to solve your problem. They are in your house because you have a food source, i.e. other bugs. If you get rid of the other bugs you should get rid of the centipedes. Good luck.
p.s. After I got a cat I did notice a reduction in their numbers. 😉
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/6 "2005-09-28T13:45:03Z")
> [@The Asbestos Mango](#):
>
> I’ve always thought centipedes were pretty, in a creepy sort of way, the way their legs sort of ripple as they move across the bathtub, sending me screaming from the room.
You need psychological help. And quickly!
_shudder_
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### Author:  [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/7 "2005-09-28T15:08:33Z")
Just don’t try to catch one. They will bite. And it hurts.
If you’re getting a lot of centipedes, it could signal a structural problem with your house (rotten foundation, insulation, etc)…I’d look into it.
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### Author:  [@parkov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parkov)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/8 "2005-09-28T18:04:55Z")
I’ve had many an unfortunate run-in with the vile house centipede. They’re extremely quick, have the ability to climb walls, and tend to come out at night. It’s a horrible feeling to see one of these two inch bastards out of the corner of your eye when you’re watching late night TV.
A rolled-up magazine leaves a gruesome splotch on the wall. Bug spray will kill the beasts, but it also has the unfortunate side effect of making some legs fall out, still twitching. If you spot one high up on the wall or ceiling above you, spraying them might also result in a faceful of legs. Then there’s a risk that, as they’re so elusive, you might not be able to smash or spray a direct hit before they make their escape, and then you’re left with the knowledge that there’s a vengeful centipede somewhere in the room.
The best way to dispose of them, to echo previous poster, is to use a vacuum cleaner hose. Inch up close to the centipede with the end of the hose, and then flip the switch. No muss, no fuss.
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### Author:  [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/9 "2005-09-28T18:22:29Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#):
>
> Just don’t try to catch one. They will bite. And it hurts.
Catch one? Like with my HANDS? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
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### Author:  [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/10 "2005-09-28T18:36:40Z")
I am very amused that one of the Google ads for eBay reads “Shop on eBay and Save! Discount Brown Recluse Spiders!” I can stock up on them for all my family and friends, just in time for the holidays!
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### Author:  [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/11 "2005-09-28T18:46:57Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#):
>
> I am very amused that one of the Google ads for eBay reads “Shop on eBay and Save! Discount Brown Recluse Spiders!” I can stock up on them for all my family and friends, just in time for the holidays!
Is it even legal (or at least within EBay’s policies) to buy and sell poisonous critters, much less at low, low every day prices?
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### Author:  [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/12 "2005-09-28T20:00:05Z")
The strange thing is, you can actually kind of get used to them. They used to weird me out no end, but now, I have to admit, I kind of like them. Don’t know why, but I’ve developed a live-and-let-live relationship with them. Speaking of brown recluse spiders, I read once that _Scutigera_ gobble them up, and could be cultivated for that purpose.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/13 "2005-09-28T20:12:38Z")
> [@parkov](#):
>
> If you spot one high up on the wall or ceiling above you, spraying them might also result in a faceful of legs. .
Oh my dear Og. _pukey smiley_
But yes, use the vacuum by all means. Or better yet, do what I do and call your SO.
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### Author:  [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/14 "2005-09-29T00:21:33Z")
If you’ve got a lot, do look into things like small cracks where they can get in, and areas of the basement that are dark and damp. They like dark, damp places and particularly hide in firewood; trying to keep the area immediately around your house clear of piles of leaves and things like that may help. Of course, once they’re in, they can stay indefinitely - they’ll spend their entire life in a house if they can.
And my cats don’t kill 'em. I think they’re almost as freaked out by _Scutigera coleoptrata_ as I am. Though I think one of the cats managed to maim one the other day.
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### Author:  [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/15 "2005-09-29T00:54:22Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> Oh my dear Og. _pukey smiley_
> …Or better yet, do what I do and call your SO.
Yep; reminds me on the time my wifey called me home from work to kill a roach in the pantry.
🙂 OTOH, it truly was a **huge** roach.
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### Author:  [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/16 "2005-09-29T02:08:00Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#):
>
> I am very amused that one of the Google ads for eBay reads “Shop on eBay and Save! Discount Brown Recluse Spiders!” I can stock up on them for all my family and friends, just in time for the holidays!
OK … I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad I was not taking a drink of anything when I read this. I had my biggest laugh of the day over this post. Thank you Lou.
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### Author:  [@jocularjason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jocularjason)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/17 "2005-09-29T04:44:39Z")
I used to see those things climbing the walls in an apartment I had years ago in upstate New York. I never saw more than one at a time so I was convinced there was only one of them.
If I turned on the light at 3:00 a.m, he’d be there right above my bed.
He never bit me or crawled in my ear so he was a friend.
The house I was living in at the time was built in the 1890’s. Maybe this is an “old house” monster.
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### Author:  [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/18 "2005-09-29T04:51:40Z")
Aaahhh… :frantically breathes into a paper bag:
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### Author:  [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2005, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-centipedes/323809/19 "2005-09-29T08:04:46Z")
I HATE those motherfuckers. I used to have them in my apartment in Maryland. I had never seen one before I moved there, and it scared the shit out of me. I didn’t have a vacuum with a hose at the time, so I would just spray a ton of Raid on them until they would stop moving. It was so gross.
Here is a web site with lots of pictures and stories about house centipedes:
[http://www.whatsthatbug.com/cent.html](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/cent.html)