Best Traps for Centipedes Indoors

 

To trap centipedes inside your home, the most effective options are sticky glue traps, which are sheets or boards coated with a sticky adhesive. Centipedes walk across these traps and get stuck, allowing you to monitor or reduce their numbers. Glue traps are simple for anyone to use, non-toxic (they’re not poisonous), don’t have strong smells, and require no special training. Professional pest controllers often start with sticky traps before moving to heavier chemicals or full removal, and they’re widely available at hardware and big box stores.

 

Why Sticky Traps Work for Centipedes

 

Centipedes are fast-moving insects that hunt at night for small bugs. Because they travel along walls, into cracks, and near water sources like sinks and bathrooms, sticky traps are excellent for catching them in these high-traffic areas. The trap’s glue doesn’t attract the centipede – instead, when they walk over it by accident (since they can’t smell it or see it well), their legs get stuck, and they can’t escape.

 

How to Use Sticky Glue Traps for Centipedes

 

• Buy flat glue boards or “insect monitors” (these can be labeled for spiders, crickets, or general bugs, but work the same for centipedes).
• Place traps along baseboards, in corners of rooms, especially bathrooms, closets, basements, laundry areas, and under sinks. These are favorite centipede hangouts because they are dark, humid, and near other insects (food for centipedes).
• Slide traps behind or under furniture, shelves, or appliances where you’ve seen centipedes or their shed skins. If possible, put traps along dark walls, as centipedes often travel along edges rather than open floors.
• Change traps every few weeks, or sooner if they’re covered with bugs and dust. Review what gets caught: glue boards will tell you not just about centipedes, but other bugs that might be attracting them inside.

 

Homemade Trap Tips

 

You can also make basic sticky traps at home using cardboard coated with petroleum jelly or a strong double-sided tape. Just use an old cereal box or similar, cut into flat pieces, and smear on a thin layer of petroleum jelly, then place these in dark, hidden areas. They won’t be as sticky or strong as commercial boards, but in a pinch, they catch a wandering centipede.

 

Other Trapping Ideas and What Doesn’t Work

 

• Light traps (using bright lights or UV to lure centipedes) do not work because centipedes aren’t drawn to light.
• Jar traps with bait are mostly ineffective, since centipedes are not easily attracted by smells.
• Poison baits rarely work for centipedes; they prefer to eat live prey and are unlikely to eat poisoned food.
• Vacuuming or catching by hand can trap a centipede you see, but doesn’t solve broader infestations.

 

Key Tips for Success

 

• Place several sticky traps in different rooms at the same time. One trap alone won’t catch every centipede.
• Keep rooms dry and dehumidified. Centipedes love moist areas; by using a fan or dehumidifier, you make traps more effective by pushing them out of hiding.
• Check traps regularly and replace them when full or dusty.
• Combine trapping with reducing other small bugs indoors (the centipedes’ food supply). The fewer food bugs, the fewer centipedes you’ll have.

 

Summary of Trap Effectiveness

 

Sticky glue board traps are by far the most reliable and practical method to capture centipedes inside your home. They do not attract centipedes, but will catch those wandering around. While not a permanent solution, they control numbers, help monitor current problems, and are safe for homes with kids or pets if placed out of reach. Homemade sticky traps can help in a pinch, but store-bought ones last longer and are stronger. Chemical baits and jar traps do not work for centipedes. For ongoing problems, combine trapping with reducing moisture and sealing up cracks where bugs enter.