There are only a few people who would say that centipedes are not creepy. As a general rule, the vast majority of us can agree, there is something about these bugs that freaks us out a little. But what is it?
You might immediately leap to the conclusion that it is because they have all those legs. But if the number of legs was a factor for creepiness, millipedes should be more creepy than centipedes, but this is clearly not the case.
Maybe it is the way those legs look. A millipede has small legs that point out from underneath, but the legs of a centipede look like a bad hair day. On some subconscious level, are we afraid of having a bad hair day? Probably not. It seems more likely that it is something else.
If you look at a centipede from the top down, it looks like something a cat coughed up. Could that be the secret to why these bugs are so disgusting? No. It has to be something else.
Let’s look at this from another angle. What are some things we do like? Well, we mentioned cats. Let’s use those. Why is it that so many of us have cats? What sticks out most is that they are a lot like us. They have two eyes, a nose, a mouth, teeth and legs. These features definitely help us to relate to cats. Plus, they’re soft. Who doesn’t love soft?
Those centipedes, on the other hand, are just about as different from us as a creature can be. They have no facial features we can look at and relate to, and as far as softness goes, they’re not–at all. They are hard shelled, alien-looking creatures. The exact opposite of the creatures we adopt as pets.
What do you think makes them creepy? Feel free to talk amongst yourselves. When you’re done, run down through this list of natural exclusions to keep these creepy pests out of your home.
- Seal cracks and gaps in your foundation walls.
- Don’t allow weeds to grow up near your exterior walls.
- Keep your basement well ventilated and consider using a dehumidifier to keep things dry down there.
- Since centipedes eat other insects, it is important to have a professional identify the pests in and around your home to eliminate food sources.
If you’d like to keep centipedes and other creepy bugs out of your home, Moyer can help. We have over 140 years of experience with creepy bugs and residential plans that are sure to make your home creepy-bug-free. Give us a call at 215.799.2010 or fill out the form below and we will contact you.