Service · Centipede treatmentLow riskScutigera coleoptrata, Scolopendra spp.
Centipede Control across the UAE
Fast, many-legged centipedes appear where it is damp — bathrooms, drains and gardens — and usually signal a moisture problem plus other small insects to feed on. Our technicians remove them safely and tackle the cause, backed by a warranty and a free quote.
Active · Most active through the humid months, when high outdoor humidity and indoor condensation create ideal damp conditions, Noticeable after rain, when wet ground and flooded garden harbourage push centipedes toward shelter
Centipedes are fast, flattened, many-legged predators that turn up in UAE homes for two simple reasons: moisture and prey. They need damp micro-environments to avoid drying out, and they follow the smaller insects they eat, so a centipede indoors is almost always a sign of dampness and of other pests already present. The most common indoor species is the house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) — a long-legged, harmless hunter that darts across bathroom walls and floors at night chasing silverfish, cockroach nymphs and other crawlers. Outdoors, larger desert and garden centipedes (Scolopendra) live under mulch, pots, rocks and irrigation lines; these are bigger, more robust and can deliver a painful, venomous bite if handled. Indoors you will typically find centipedes around bathrooms, floor drains, under sinks, in utility and laundry rooms, and inside damp wall voids — exactly the spots where condensation, leaks and warm humid air collect. Because they are an indicator pest, lasting control means more than killing the centipede you see: it means drying the area, sealing entry points and reducing the silverfish and cockroach activity that draws them in.
Greyish-yellow body about 25-35 mm with up to 15 pairs of very long, delicate legs
Extremely fast — darts across bathroom walls and floors at night, often vanishing into a drain
Essentially harmless to people; rarely bites and prefers to flee rather than confront
A beneficial hunter indoors, feeding on silverfish, cockroach nymphs, moths and other small insects
Large Desert / Giant Centipede (Scolopendra spp.)
02
Much larger and more robust — commonly 80-150 mm — with shorter, sturdier legs and a banded body
Lives outdoors under garden mulch, pots, rocks, paving and along irrigation lines
Can deliver a painful, venomous bite if handled or trapped — comparable to a bad bee or wasp sting
Occasionally wanders indoors at night during heat and after watering, seeking cool, damp shelter
How it works
Our treatment process
01
Inspect & Find the Cause
We confirm the species and trace the moisture sources, entry points and prey insects driving the activity — checking bathrooms, drains, under-sink areas, utility rooms and the garden perimeter.
02
Treat & Seal
We apply targeted crack-and-crevice and perimeter treatment with municipality-approved products and seal the gaps and drains centipedes use to get inside.
03
Reduce Harbourage & Damp
We remove and advise on clutter, damp cardboard and garden debris, and give clear guidance on lowering humidity and fixing leaks so the conditions no longer suit centipedes.
04
Follow-up & Warranty
We schedule a follow-up visit to confirm the centipedes and their prey are gone, and back the work with a warranty so any return is dealt with at no extra cost.
Service tiers
Our centipede services
01
Residential
Villa and apartment programmes that clear centipedes from bathrooms, drains and utility areas, target the silverfish and cockroach prey behind them, and address the damp — safe for children, pets and pregnant residents when used as directed, and backed by a warranty.
02
Commercial
Hotels, restaurants, schools, clinics and facilities — discreet, scheduled inspection and treatment of damp-prone back-of-house, plant rooms, washrooms and drainage, with documentation suitable for municipal and audit requirements.
03
Emergency Same-Day
Same-day response in business hours for a large garden centipede indoors or a sudden infestation, with safe removal and a plan to stop it recurring.
centipede control guide
Everything you should know
A short, honest field guide — what we look for, how we treat, and how to keep them out for good.
How to identify them
Long, flattened, segmented body with one pair of legs per body segment — never the fat, round body of a millipede
House centipede: greyish-yellow, 25-35 mm, with strikingly long thin legs and long antennae that make it look bigger than it is
Moves in fast bursts then freezes — a sudden darting run across a wall or floor at night is the classic giveaway
Large Scolopendra: 80-150 mm, darker and banded (often brown, reddish or yellow-orange) with short powerful legs
A single pair of long rear legs that trail behind, and prominent front fangs (forcipules) used to seize prey
Most often seen at night or when a damp hiding place (a mat, a box, a drain cover) is suddenly disturbed
Signs of infestation
Fast, many-legged insects darting across bathroom or kitchen floors and walls after dark
Centipedes appearing in sinks, bathtubs or shower trays, having climbed up through a drain
Sightings clustered in the dampest rooms — bathrooms, laundry and utility areas, under-sink cupboards
Other moisture pests present at the same time — silverfish, cockroaches or small flies — which centipedes feed on
Centipedes found under pots, rocks, mulch or paving when tidying the garden or moving stored items
Occasional larger garden centipede wandering indoors on a hot night or after irrigation runs
Health & safety risks
House centipedes are essentially harmless — they very rarely bite, carry no disease of concern, and are more of a startle and a nuisance than a hazard
Large Scolopendra centipedes can deliver a painful, venomous bite if handled or trapped — typically comparable to a bad bee or wasp sting, with sharp local pain, redness and swelling
Such a bite is medically significant for pain but is rarely dangerous to an otherwise healthy adult, and symptoms usually ease within hours to a day
Seek medical attention for a severe reaction, signs of spreading infection, or any bite to a young child, an elderly person or someone with allergies or a health condition
Their presence is mainly an indicator of damp and of other pests (silverfish, cockroaches) — the underlying moisture and prey issue is the real thing worth addressing
Where you'll find them
Bathrooms and en-suites — around the shower tray, bath, skirting and tile gaps where humidity collects
Floor drains and shower/balcony gullies, which centipedes use as a damp highway into the home
Under sinks and inside vanity-unit cupboards where slow leaks and condensation keep things moist
Utility and laundry rooms — behind and beneath the washing machine and water heater
Garden mulch, flower beds and planted borders, especially near drip irrigation lines
Under pots, paving slabs, rocks, garden furniture and stored items resting on damp ground
Damp wall voids, behind skirting and around plumbing penetrations where pipes pass through walls
When they're active
Most active through the humid months, when high outdoor humidity and indoor condensation create ideal damp conditions
Noticeable after rain, when wet ground and flooded garden harbourage push centipedes toward shelter
Peak summer migration indoors as gardens dry and centipedes move inside seeking moisture and cooler temperatures
Active year-round in consistently damp indoor spots such as bathrooms and utility rooms, with little seasonal let-up
Our treatment approach
Moisture and humidity reduction — improving ventilation and extractor-fan use, and advising on lowering humidity in bathrooms and utility areas so the environment no longer suits centipedes
Fixing the source of damp — identifying and recommending repair of leaking taps, traps, pipework and condensation points that keep harbourage wet
Sealing entry points — closing gaps around pipes, skirting, doors and wall penetrations, and fitting or recommending drain covers and grates over floor gullies
Removing harbourage and clutter — clearing damp cardboard, stored items and garden debris, and moving mulch, pots and rocks away from walls and entryways
Targeted crack-and-crevice treatment with municipality-approved products into the specific voids, skirting lines and drain surrounds where centipedes shelter
Residual perimeter treatment around the outside of the building, door thresholds and garden edges to intercept centipedes before they get inside
Controlling the prey insects — treating the silverfish and cockroach activity that feeds centipedes, since removing their food supply is the most durable long-term control
Prevention tips
Keep bathrooms, laundry and utility areas as dry as possible — run extractor fans, wipe down wet surfaces, and ventilate after showers
Fix dripping taps, leaking traps and condensation promptly so there are no permanently damp pockets for centipedes to live in
Fit close-mesh covers or grates over floor drains and shower gullies to block the most common indoor entry route
Seal gaps around pipes, skirting boards, door thresholds and wall penetrations, especially in damp rooms
Move mulch, pots, rocks, firewood and stored items away from exterior walls and doorways, and avoid over-watering beds next to the house
Reduce the insects centipedes feed on — keep silverfish and cockroaches in check and store food and recycling so they have nothing to hunt indoors
Prep & aftercare
Before & after your service
Before your visit
Note where and when you have seen centipedes — which rooms, and whether at night, after a shower or after garden watering — to speed up the inspection
Clear the contents of under-sink and bathroom cupboards into a dry box so the technician can inspect and treat the voids and skirting
Move stored boxes, baskets and items at least 30 cm away from the walls in utility rooms, store rooms and garages
Tidy and pull back garden pots, mulch and furniture from the exterior walls and doorways so the perimeter can be treated
Keep children and pets out of the rooms being treated until surfaces are dry, as the technician will advise
If you have caught or photographed a centipede, keep it for the technician — it helps confirm house centipede versus large garden species
After your service
Leave the crack-and-crevice and perimeter treatment undisturbed — do not wash or wipe treated skirting, drain surrounds and exterior edges for the period the technician specifies
Keep running extractor fans and ventilating damp rooms; the drier you keep bathrooms and utility areas, the less likely centipedes are to return
Keep floor-drain covers and grates in place and clear, as these block the main indoor entry route
Expect to see the occasional centipede in the first few days as the treatment works through hidden harbourage; numbers should fall away quickly
Address any leaks or damp the technician flagged, since fixing the moisture is what makes the result last
Contact us if centipedes persist beyond the settling-in period — your treatment is backed by a warranty and we will return to re-treat
The questions we hear most about centipede control jobs in the UAE.
Are centipedes dangerous?
For the most part, no. The house centipede you usually see indoors in the UAE is essentially harmless — it very rarely bites, carries no disease of concern, and is more startling than hazardous. The exception is the large desert or garden centipede (Scolopendra), which can give a painful, venomous bite if you handle or trap it; the pain is roughly like a bad bee or wasp sting and is rarely dangerous to a healthy adult, though you should seek medical care for a severe reaction or if a child or elderly person is bitten.
How do I get rid of centipedes in my house?
The key is to fix what is attracting them rather than just chasing the ones you see. Reduce damp by ventilating and drying bathrooms and utility areas and fixing any leaks, seal gaps around pipes and skirting, fit covers over floor drains, and clear away damp clutter. Crucially, deal with the silverfish and cockroaches they feed on, because removing their food supply is what makes them leave for good. A professional service combines targeted crack-and-crevice and perimeter treatment with this moisture and prey control, and backs it with a warranty.
Why do I keep finding centipedes in my bathroom?
Bathrooms tick every box a centipede looks for — constant humidity, water around the shower and sink, dark gaps to hide in, and small insects like silverfish to hunt. Many also climb up through the floor or shower drain, which acts as a damp highway from the plumbing voids into the room. To break the cycle, keep the bathroom well ventilated and as dry as you can, fit a close-mesh cover over the drain, seal gaps around pipes and skirting, and reduce any silverfish activity. If they keep returning, it usually points to a persistent moisture source worth having inspected.
Do centipedes mean I have other pests?
Very often, yes. Centipedes are predators, so they go where the food is — finding them indoors usually means there is a population of smaller insects such as silverfish, cockroach nymphs, small flies or other crawlers for them to eat. They are also a reliable indicator of damp. So a centipede is a useful warning sign on two fronts: it tells you an area is too humid, and that other pests are likely already established. A proper inspection looks for both the moisture and the prey, not just the centipede itself.
What is the difference between a house centipede and a millipede?
They are easy to tell apart once you know what to look for. A house centipede has a flattened body with a single pair of long, fast legs per segment and moves in quick darting bursts — it is a hunter. A millipede has a rounder, slower body with two pairs of short legs per segment and tends to curl into a spiral when disturbed; it feeds on decaying plant matter rather than other insects. Both like damp conditions, but the control approach is similar: reduce moisture, seal entry points and clear harbourage.
Are the products you use safe for my children and pets?
Yes, when used as directed. We are a municipality-approved, licensed pest-control provider and we work to an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, using approved products placed precisely into cracks, crevices, drains and the building perimeter rather than blanket spraying living areas. The technician will tell you which rooms to keep children and pets out of and how long to wait before surfaces are touched. The result is centipede control that is safe for children, pets and pregnant residents when our instructions are followed.
How quickly can you come, and where do you cover?
We provide a free quote and aim to respond within about 30 minutes during business hours, and we offer same-day attendance for urgent cases such as a large centipede indoors. We service all seven emirates, with a strong focus on Dubai. Once we have inspected and treated, the work is backed by a warranty, so if the problem returns within the covered period we come back and re-treat at no extra cost.
Will centipedes go away on their own?
Sometimes a single house centipede wanders in and leaves again, but recurring sightings rarely resolve by themselves because the conditions that brought them — damp and a supply of prey insects — are still there. As long as a bathroom, drain or wall void stays moist and there are silverfish or cockroaches to eat, centipedes will keep returning. The lasting fix is to dry the area, seal their entry points and remove their food source, which is exactly what an IPM-based treatment is designed to do.
