Business hours
- Monday [8 a.m. - 5 p.m.]
- Tuesday [8 a.m. - 5 p.m.]
- Wednesday [8 a.m. - 5 p.m.]
- Thursday [8 a.m. - 5 p.m.]
- Friday [8 a.m. - 5 p.m.]
- Saturday [10 a.m. - 4 p.m.]
- Sunday [10 a.m. - 4 p.m.]
Insects we treat
Centipede extermination
You turn on the basement light and a long, many-legged creature darts across the wall at alarming speed. It's flat, pale, with oversized antennae — and it moves faster than anything with that many legs should.
That's most likely a house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) — the most common centipede species found indoors in Quebec and Ontario. If you're seeing them regularly, it's not a coincidence — it's a sign of a bigger problem beneath your home.
The centipede: a predator that reveals a hidden problem
The house centipede is actually a predator. It feeds on ants, spiders, bed bugs, silverfish, earwigs and other small insects. If you have centipedes, it means their food supply is plentiful. Their presence in numbers indicates a significant population of prey insects in your home.
Common species in the Outaouais and Ottawa
- House centipede Scutigera coleoptrata — The most common indoor species. Recognizable by its 15 pairs of long, striped legs and extremely fast movement. Can reach 3 to 4 cm in length. Primarily active at night.
- Stone centipede (Lithobius) — Smaller, brown, found under rocks and in damp foundations. Slower than the house centipede, but equally indicative of moisture problems.
Our approach — treat the cause, not just the symptom
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Full inspection
We don't just look for centipedes. We identify what's attracting them: which prey insects are present, where the moisture is coming from, and how everything is getting in.
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Targeted treatment
Application of residual products in activity zones (basement, foundation, drains, cracks). Exterior perimeter treatment to cut off entry points.
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Prey elimination
If the centipede population is significant, there's an underlying insect problem to address. We tackle the source.
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Environmental recommendations
Advice to reduce moisture: dehumidifier, crack repair, drainage improvement, crawl space ventilation.
Frequently asked questions
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Are centipedes dangerous?
The house centipede can bite if handled directly, but this is rare and comparable to a mild bee sting. It is not aggressive toward humans. No dangerous venom, no disease transmission. It's a nuisance pest — their appearance and speed bother people far more than any real risk.
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Why do I mostly see them at night?
Centipedes are nocturnal. They actively hunt at night and hide during the day in cracks, under objects and in dark corners. If you're seeing them regularly during the day, the population is likely significant.
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Is a single centipede a problem?
An isolated individual is normal — centipedes occasionally enter from outside. But if you're seeing several per week, a population has established itself and prey insects are abundant in your home.
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Do dehumidifiers really help?
Yes. Reducing relative humidity below 50% in the basement makes the environment much less attractive to centipedes AND the insects they feed on. It's often the most effective long-term preventive measure.
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Do hardware store products work?
Over-the-counter insecticides kill visible individuals but don't control an established population. A professional residual treatment, combined with moisture management and prey elimination, delivers lasting results.
Service areas
Service areas
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Outaouais
Gatineau, Hull, Aylmer, Buckingham, Chelsea, Wakefield
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Ottawa and area
Bilingual service across the river
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Laurentians
MRC Antoine-Labelle, Mont-Laurier, Rivière-Rouge, cottages and forested properties
Centipedes in the basement? It's a sign of a problem we can solve.
Free estimate. Treatment and prevention. We tackle the source.