How to Keep Kauai’s Giant Centipedes Out of Your Home

We’ve got lots of creepy crawlies here on Kauai, but perhaps the ickiest is the Giant Centipede. Yes, that’s what they’re called. I won’t get into the details of how they look or how bad their bite is, because yuck, but if you’re new to Kauai … prepare yourself.  

The bad news is that centipedes can (and probably will) get into your house. The good news is that there is a lot you can do to keep them away or get rid of them. 

How to Keep Centipedes Out of Your Kauai Home

Centipedes are predators that eat other bugs. That means keeping bugs in general under control will help keep centipedes away, too. Here are 9 Kauai-tested anti-centipede strategies.

1. Keep your home dry: Centipedes are attracted to moisture, so make sure to keep your home clean and dry. Fix any leaks or sources of dampness. If Kauai’s humidity is making your home damp, try my 7 humidity-busting tips.
2. Seal up cracks and gaps: These sneaky little critters can find their way through even very small openings in walls, floors, and doors. Use caulk or weather-stripping to seal up any holes.
3. Use essential oils: Centipedes dislike essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree. Create a natural repellent by mixing these oils with water in a spray bottle and spritzing it around your home. (Essential oils can repel other pests too!)
4. Lift up your bedding: Centipedes love body heat, so keep your bedding off the floor so centipedes don’t crawl up the sheets and cuddle up with you at night. No bed skirts, no underbed storage, and no trailing blankets! (I attach double-sided tape to my bed legs for triple protection!)
5. Cover your trash: Centipedes can find a feast in your trash, so it's crucial to keep it covered and protected. Also, deodorize any smelly trash containers, since the smell of rotting organic matter can draw centipedes in.
6. Tidy up your yard: Remove clutter from your yard, especially organic stuff like wood, leaves and mulching areas. Centipedes love hiding in dark, moist spaces, so clear away any wet piles and don’t leave damp towels by the pool.
7. Turn off the lights: Centipedes are drawn to bright white lights just like other bugs, so reduce exterior lighting or swap them out for yellow lights, since insects can't detect yellow as easily.
8. Embrace regular cleaning and decluttering: With a consistent cleaning schedule and minimal clutter, you’ll keep centipedes and other pests away. Pay extra attention to garages, mud rooms and crawl spaces, where centipedes often camp out. If you’re overwhelmed by the amount of clutter you need to deal with,     don’t worry – we’ve all been there! I can help you make your home more comfortable (and less comfortable for bugs). Just give me a shout.

9. Call the Pest Experts: Get your home on a quarterly pest control schedule. There are several companies on Kauai that can help control our many-legged friends, along with all the other troublesome critters that give us the heebie-jeebies that we deal with on Kauai.

‍How to Get Rid of Centipedes - The Battle of the Bugs!  

As the saying goes, no plan survives contact with the enemy. All of the tips above will do a great job of keeping centipedes out, but chances are that sooner or later one will wiggle its way inside.

If you see a centipede, take a deep breath. You don’t need to burn the whole house down (though I get it if you kinda want to). Try putting a book on top of the centipede while you figure out what to do. That will keep it still, at least.

There are several ways to kill centipedes, but it's important to remember that these creatures are beneficial and help control other insect populations. (And birds just love them – centipedes are like filet mignon for them!) If you can, it’s best to remove the centipede from your home instead of killing it.

Here are four choices to consider:

1. Use a vacuum: If you see a centipede, use a vacuum to remove it. This is a safe and effective way to get rid of centipedes without harming them.

2. Put out sticky traps: Sticky traps are an effective, non-toxic solution for capturing centipedes. Place these traps in areas where you've spotted them, and once they're caught, dispose of them according to the directions. (pro tip: put them under your fridge, stove and behind toilets.)

3. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth: Put diatomaceous earth around your home's perimeter, in corners, and in other areas where centipedes may hide. Diatomaceous earth is a natural powder that is made from the fossilized remains of diatoms and will kill centipedes.

4. Try boric acid: Sprinkle boric acid in areas where centipedes are seen. This will kill centipedes and other insects that come in contact with it.

Home Depot in Lihue is a great place to source these and other bug omitting items.

Sadly, big scary bugs are just a fact of life here in the tropics. It’s the price we pay to live in Paradise! With these tips, hopefully you won’t have to pay that price too often.