Do you ever get that instant urge to stomp on any creepy crawly insect you find in your home? It’s a natural reaction, especially considering the potential dangers they pose. But what if I told you that some of those creepy crawlies are actually doing you a favor by keeping other pesky insects away?
Those quick and squirmy creatures we call centipedes might not be the first thing you want to see in your toilet, but they are actually nature’s pest control experts. These unique centipedes, with around 20 legs wrapped around their bodies, are a bit shorter than their wormy cousins.
They serve as your home’s invisible heroes, feasting on cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, bedbugs, and ants. Their appetite for arthropods is insatiable, as they gobble up every creepy crawly they come across around the house.
Now, I know they can be a little unsettling, especially if you have young children or are simply repulsed by them. But instead of squashing them, consider letting them go about their business or gently relocating them outside to chomp on some leaves.
You see, by refraining from squashing every bug you encounter, you can avoid the risk of releasing hundreds of baby spiders into your home. Trust me, that’s not something you want to witness. And even the centipedes themselves shouldn’t scare you too much; they are essentially harmless. It’s some of their fellow insects that you should be wary of.
Take bullet ants, for example. As their name suggests, their bites make you feel like you’ve been shot. So, it’s best to avoid encounters with them altogether. These giants among ants are commonly found in the jungles of Paraguay and Nicaragua.
But the real horror comes from the botfly larvae, an internal parasite that can affect both animals and humans. The female botfly lays her eggs under the skin, and as the larvae grow, they burrow deeper, causing infections and significant tissue changes.
In some cases, people claim to feel the larvae crawling under their skin, which is truly a nightmare scenario. So, it’s definitely a good idea to keep an eye out for these deadly insects and hope you never encounter them indoors.
Remember, not all insects are your enemies. Some, like centipedes, can actually be your home’s tiny protectors. So, the next time you spot one, consider giving it a chance to do its job before resorting to the squashing reflex.
