How do I get rid of centipedes in my basement?
It also wouldn’t hurt to go around and figure out where they could potentially be getting in to the house. You can use caulk to fill any holes, but I like the “triple expanding” or “maximum expansion” foam that comes in a spray-paint-looking can. Caulk would be a lot less messy for small cracks and gaps, but the foam is just fun for some reason.
If that doesn’t do the trick, there are sticky traps (just seems messy and like too much work) and sprays. Since pesticide/insecticide/poisons scare me a bit, I’ll leave the research on those up to you if it comes to that.
Comments
Comment by spudart on 2008-07-12 21:00:49 -0500
Build centipede houses in your neighbor’s basement.
Comment by sparx on 2008-07-12 21:03:05 -0500
But then the neighbor’s basement will become a sort of centipede “home base” or “command center”.. they’ll be able to launch coordinated attacks with increased numbers.
Comment by spudart on 2008-07-12 21:07:48 -0500
Nope, it’s like pigeon control in cities. Instead of killing the pigeons, they actually give them food in other areas of the city… oh wait. it’s not the same. In pigeon control, they give the pigeons food in other areas of the city, so they can control how much food to give them. More food means more pigeons. Less food means less pigeons. When the stupid tourists aren’t deciding the amount of food pigeons get, the pigeon population decreases.
As much as your brain is thinking that if the pigeons aren’t getting enough food at these control centers and that they will turn back to the tourists, it just doesn’t quite happen that way. Give the pigeons an easy consistent source of food at these control centers, and they will come to rely on them.
I’m not making this up, this is how advanced cities control their pigeon population. Andrew D. Blechman reports this in his book “Pigeons.”
Erik,
You need to give the centipedes a place to live in your neighbor’s basement. But give them a consistent food source. I hope your neighbor is alright with this.
And of course, i’m assuming the habits of centipededs are just like pigeons. So this might not work.
Comment by spudart on 2008-07-12 21:08:13 -0500
Where can i subscribe to comments?
Comment by spudart on 2008-07-12 21:08:37 -0500
Oh maybe that should be an official question.
Comment by sparx on 2008-07-12 21:14:28 -0500
Centipedes have a much shorter gestation period than pigeons.
The effects of food availability on the population of the pigeons is very similar to the message in the book Ishmael, that I recommended a few questions ago. Except it’s about us and our societies/culture/agriculture.. not pigeons.
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