An enthusiastic writer, Pamela has been writing on HubPages for eight years.

Pamela Kinnaird

In Hawaii, big centipedes are just a fact of life. That said, not many of us are born with the ability to casually pick them up. Some of us have nightmares about centipedes. Some of us have overcome our fears pretty well. Still, I don't want to get within ten feet of one.

While it's unlikely that you'll encounter one of these giant centipedes at a hotel, if you've recently moved to Hawaii, or stay at an Airbnb on one of the islands, it's important to understand how to handle these pests. This article explores my experiences with these terrifying creatures and how my family and I handle them. Below is everything you need to know about these gigantic Hawaiian centipedes and how to eliminate them.

Surviving Giant Centipedes in Hawaii

When you live in Hawaii, it doesn't always seem like paradise. Sure, if you stay in the hotels or condos that are designed specifically for vacationers, then you're pretty safe. I've never heard of anyone encountering centipedes or other nightmare material in their living quarters while vacationing here. The vacation properties are maintained to be bug-free. However, out in the real Hawaiian Islands, not all of us can afford monthly home and yard sprayings. Others don't want to live with the consequences of breathing in and touching pesticide on a daily and continuous basis. Some days, I feel like I'm a hero just to have survived another day in "paradise."

What Kinds of Centipedes Live in Hawaii?

Species Info Poisonous/venomous? Scolopendra Subspinipes The Vietnamese centipede is by far the largest centipede that will make itself a pest in your home. This centipede can be over 20 cm long. Yes Lethobius Sp. t has as many as 23 pairs of stubby pale legs, and is around 2 inches in length. You're likely to find this centipede in moist environments. Harmless Mecistocephalus Maxillaris It is yellow, with a dark red head, and does not have the comb-like appearance of the common house centipede. Harmless

How to Kill These Bugs

Why not just stomp on the centipede, you ask? Unless you are very heavy, that rarely kills one. They are made of steel armor. They are built to last. That's why everyone has the Maui Built stickers on their vehicles out here. These tropical centipedes are big and strong. Some of them grow to be 12 inches long and almost one inch in width.

I used to say, "If we ever find a centipede in our living area, that will be it; we'll have to leave these islands." But when I see my brave little grandchildren taking these creatures in stride and being able to fall asleep at night when they have just finished witnessing the execution of a translucent 10-inch long centipede, I think to myself, I've got to regain my perspective. Centipedes can't hurt me. (Yes, they can.) They were here first. (So what?) I love living near my family and I'm not going to let the centipedes be a deterrent. I'm bigger than them. (Okay.) This is my internal battle every time I see one lurking around my yard.

My daughter, Priscilla, can kill a centipede with a butcher knife or scissors all by herself. She is an adult with children who are looking to her for protection. If her husband, Daniel, is home when one of these fast-slithering creatures from hell enters the family domain, she grabs the biggest knife she can find and hands it to him. Daniel then has the honor of hacking the thing in half. Then he cuts it in quarters.

What You Can Use to Kill Centipedes

Product What It Does Price Aqueon Aquarium Silicone Sealant Water proof caulk that stops moisture from entering or exiting. Also seals off small holes that insects could enter through. $12 Victor M256 Poison-Free Insect Magnet Traps A classic adhesive trap aimed at eliminating silverfish, cockroaches, ants, centipedes and other parasites. Apart from the adhesive tape, the pheromone bait is used. $6 Ortho 0196710 Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray Spray as a barrier. It is supposed to kill the arthropods rather quickly and then it goes on to serve as a repellent for a few months. $21 Safer Brand 51702 Diatomaceous Earth Made of recycled algae. They can eat them, inhale them or just walk over them – in any case diatomaceous earth will harm them and dehydrate their bodies. $15

This is a medium-sized centipede. It is about 7 inches long. I have definitely seen them 11 inches long on Oahu.

How to Eliminate Centipedes Naturally

Method Why It Works Keep your house dry. Centipedes dry out and die if they don't stay in a moist environment. Clean up basements, closets, or any other damp areas. Get rid of other small household pests. The centipedes will have nothing to eat, and will hopefully die or move in with the neighbors. Reduce clutter, inside the house and out. Clutter can trap moisture. It can also provide a cool space that mimics a rock. Close off entrance points. This will keep the bugs from entering your home in the first place. Seal any cracks in concrete foundations, and caulk spaces around doors and windows.

What Do These Bugs Eat?

Centipedes eat insects and small animals. They detect their prey through their antennae and they paralyze their prey with their venom so they can dine more easily.

Where Can You Find a Centipede in Your House?

Centipedes like to hide under cement. I know how they get into one's living room when it seems impossible for them to do it. A friend of mine told me this, "When it rains, they get themselves under the sliding patio door when it is opened for a minute or less. Then, when they are good and ready, maybe that night or the next day, they climb off the bottom of the sliding door into the living quarters to wreak havoc." They love to do that. They figure, if they have to leave this world, they may as well go out party-style.

Where Do These Bugs Normally Live?

Centipedes usually live outside, but the House Centipede can be found inside as well. Centipedes usually live outdoors in damp areas such as under leaves, stones, boards, tree bark, or in mulch around outdoor plantings. If they are around the foundation of the house, they may wander inside.

Centipedes Fight to the Finish: A Real Life Story

Just the other night Priscilla and I were talking on the telephone. Her husband was at work. All of a sudden, Priscilla screamed. I could hear her breathing fast. She was panic-stricken for about two minutes. "Priscilla, Priscilla?" I asked. I had heard her say the word "centipede," so I knew it wasn't a human intruder. Finally, she came back on the line. She said there had been a centipede in the kitchen. She hadn't seen it and had accidentally stepped on it but, luckily, she got her foot free before the thing attacked. She grabbed the kitchen tongs and picked the creature up, got it outside, and hacked it up. I am glad she took it outside to do this because, recently, I heard that the scent of a cut up centipede brings more centipedes to the area.

Centipedes don't stop moving just because you cut them up. They fight to the end. They look like they are coming to get you! That's because they are coming to get you! Their pinchers are still pinching for several minutes after the body is lying in pieces, writhing on the floor. Daniel has pestered a sliced-up centipede after the execution and by poking a pencil at the pinchers has found that a centipede can keep up the attack mode for six minutes after being sliced into four pieces. This is information that, hopefully, you will never need. And as I mentioned, my daughter is capable of carrying out the execution on a centipede herself. She does not back away (or stand on the table and scream for help) if her husband is not home when the centipede is discovered in their condo. She says it actually gives her a feeling of confidence to know that she is now capable of doing this herself (whenever necessary). I will never know that feeling of confidence, but that's okay. Hopefully you will.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: Thank you for writing this. Thinking I was just being paranoid about turning on the light at night when I go to the bathroom, I decided not to this time. I just stepped on a fat, red 6 inch centipede? I actually felt its hairy feeling under my foot!

Answer: I feel for ya. That was one of my biggest fears. (Moved to Arizona and they're here, too, but smaller -- usually.) I'm glad you survived it and that it didn't pinch you or hurt you.

© 2010 Pamela Dapples

Moral Man on April 01, 2020:

Centipedes are one of the reasons I dont travel to tropical locations. These evil bastards are bad tempered and their venom is painful beyond imagining. The pain lasts anywhere from a few days to weeks. It can also cause serious sickness or systemic reactions.

My favorite Hawaiian island is Molokai. Kauai, Maui, and Oahu are nice, but the Big Island is plagued ny the active volcano, vog, and acid rain. Cane spiders, widow spiders, recluse spiders, Scorpions, and mosquitoes also cause misery and fear, so Centipedes arent the only scourge on these islands.

Where are the large Centipedes most abundant on the Hawaiian islands, and where are they most rare on these islands? Is there any spot on Molokai where there arent any Centipedes? Is there any spot on any of the Hawaiian islands where there arent any centipedes? Where are the safest and most pleasant locations in the Hawaiian islands with the least amount of vermin? I want to hike and camp without being in constant fear of dangerous, unfriendly animals being in every hole, nook, cranny, bush, and tree. Even sitting on a log or sitting on the ground is dangerous as centipedes, spiders, and scorpions could be lurking. These pests are everywhere, even inside houses and hotels. I want to visit Hawaii for its gorgeous scenery, lovely songbirds, and tropical fruits. Instead I have to be on constant guard of being attacked by some venomous arthropod or disease causing, blood sucking mosquitoe, or I have to worry about breathing the vog. Its very distressing and depressing and it makes me angry.

Jonathan on December 10, 2018:

Friend of mine was bitten on the arse by a cane centipede while sitting on a log while visiting Hawaii. Upon his return to Los Angeles, he could not put any weight on his butt. Imagine that? lol! he said it was the most painful thing he'd ever experienced. proceeded to squeeze puss out of the bite wound for the next two days.

Malia on August 07, 2018:

Know thy enemy I Always say. I looked up how these @#$^ come around......I live in hawaii and got bitten twice. Once on my patio at night smoking a cigarrette and once going into my bathroom. (At night). They love corners and crevises.....and it doesnt help living next to bushes and brush. Oh, did I mention our community sprinklers go off big time? UUGH! THEY love that.....you'd think they would have enough to eat outside of peoples house....no! They find their way in our houses here. Best bet is smash their darn heads first if your fast enough...@#$%& are prety quick. Lol

bestimmt on June 11, 2018:

These things are the spawn of satan. If there's one thing I could make extinct, these things would be it.

Mmm on April 15, 2018:

We are staying at Aulani and I got bite by a centipede. It hurt so bad. My kids and I watched it go into the pool after it attacked me. It’s been 3 hours and my foot still hurts. My foot even feels numb. It was the painfulest bite I’ve ever felt. The pain was worst than delivering a baby. It still hurts

nsm on May 27, 2016:

Am reading this horribly scary stories because less than an hour ago, one huge, I don't know how long it was, centipede creature was crawling up my jeans pants. Thank GOD, I shook my pants and it fell off just right below my feets. Talk scared, I have never bee so scared! For a minute I didn't know what to do, for once I froze, then I moved quickly and scooped the most ugly and scary creature into the trash can. Tied the trash bag tight. I hope it suffocates and dies!

Linda Robinson from Cicero, New York on May 23, 2016:

Hello Pamela wow loved this hub. You did such an extraordinary job with the your words and your photos. The hub was powerful, informative and extremely helpful and interesting. Bugs are not everyone's favorite. But before visiting Hawaii what incredible things to know and be watchful of. So nice meeting you, glad to be following you. Linda

acatslady on May 17, 2016:

I live in the north-shore of Kauai and my husband found our first live centipede last night. About 6". He trapped it in a bug catcher trap we have and I wanted to kill it but he took it and released it into the greenery outside by the pool. We get our townhouse treated for pests inside every quarter and the condo assoc. treats outside as well but this is 5th one I've seen. They are usually dead or dying inside (3) and one was live outside our front door. We relocated him. One of the dead ones was found in the drain by the hot water tank in a closet. I don't see why people here are so scared of them, although I would freak if one dropped onto the bed with me.

iain on November 07, 2015:

There is no reason to hack centipedes into pieces, you know. And I speak from my experience of living for years in Manoa. Using the tongs is an excellent idea - get them outside , drop them far away from where your family hangs out, then just leave them be. And I speak as someone who happily allows Black Widows to live on his porch here in Los Angeles. I told them "don't bother me and I won't bother you." The truce works.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on March 04, 2015:

I'm glad you were able to move. Having a cat is always good. The cat might not want to mess with these critters, but you can see immediately from the cat's posture and face when a centipede has entered the room.

t41flyer from Rio Rancho, New Mexico on March 04, 2015:

We have these bastards in New Mexico too. I found four of them. -All in our home. We moved to a new home since.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on December 08, 2014:

That is awful! I am glad you survived the horrible ordeal. I know there are many readers who are against cutting these guys in half. Personally, I would never have the courage anyway to do so, but when it comes down to one's own sense of survival and ability to cope with life, I think one has to do whatever one can do.

Darkwing on December 01, 2014:

Thank you. Your page has been informative. I have been in Hawaii for almost ten years and been dealing with these things since I got here. Most of the time I don't see them outside. I always find them inside. I found one the other night when it fell off the ceiling and onto my bed. Thank God I wasn't in bed when it happened. I cut it in half with scissors and it wandered away. I thought it was dead then, however, I was wrong. I found it the next day crawling around by my computer. It was worse for wear but still alive and kicking. I cut it into more pieces and sent it flying outside. Thankfully, this is the first one I have found in this house. They like to climb, but they aren't too great at it. I think one of the cats probably brought it in. To say the least, I was surprised when it went SPLAT on the bed. If they stay out of my realm, I will be happy to leave them alone. Now I know that carb cleaner will take them out FAST, I'm going to get me some...lol Armored car of the bug world. Ugh. Thanks and I hope you don't come across any more. Aloha

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on July 15, 2014:

Your poor wife! I wouldn't get over it for a lifetime. I know it's important to always check our shoes before we put them on -- on the Hawaiian Islands and also here in Arizona. But we're human and we forget.

Eric on July 12, 2014:

Here on the big island now. My wife just put her shoe on and started screaming something was biting her. She tore here shoe off and out dropped an 8 in centipede. Ugly bastards. It looks like you just have to wait it out.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on June 24, 2014:

My heart goes out to YOU. Isn't there any way you can move? There are lots of areas, blocks of streets here and there, that don't have any problems with centipedes there on Oahu. (Unless you dig up the sidewalk. Apparently, they like to live under sidewalks.) I can understand when you say you are 'rather paranoid' at this point. But consider yourself a hero. The fact that you stayed in that same residence and slept in the same bed, makes you one. You overcame your fears and just kept on going. You really are a hero, but now -- if I were you -- I'd move. Or at the very least get a pesticide company man in there today to spray your whole place and all around the perimeter of the house.

PJ on June 24, 2014:

I live in a ground-floor studio on a forested hillside in Kaneohe. I have been stung twice by centipedes in my bed while sleeping. Both have resulted in serious reactions. The first time was on my left upper arm. I dreamed of pain, then awoke in pain, then could see the visible wound where I was slightly bleeding. I found the centipede on my mattress between the head of my bed and the wall. Sprayed it with alcohol, but it ended up disappearing behind a baseboard. I hope it died back there. The bite burned, swelled, and got very red that night, then went down the next morning. I saw my doctor 5 days later on a routine appointment and the bite was still there, but just looked like a small, hard, round area. The very next day it exploded into an even more burning, swollen, red area that involved my entire upper arm. My local clinic ignored my repeated calls for help, so I went to the ER instead. About a year later, same thing. Dreamed of pain, woke up in pain, knew what it was right away. This time it was on the little finger side of my right hand. Again found the centipede between my bed and the wall. Then it disappeared into my bedclothes, so in the middle of the night, I had to strip the entire bed down to find it. Killed it with more alcohol. (I need to buy 98% alcohol, as I'm told that kills faster than the regular 70%.) By the next morning, my entire hand was so swollen that I could not use my fingers and could not bend my wrist. So back to the ER. Since then I have made every attempt to make sure my bed is at least a foot away from any other object and that my bedclothes don't come near the floor. Last night I left some clothes on a chair, intending to wear them the next morning. This morning I picked them up and threw them on my bed, then took a shower. Came out, picked up my blouse, and there's a centipede crawling on my bed right under where I picked it up. I don't know if it was already on my bed or if it was already in the blouse. I hope the latter. Killed it with alcohol. But I am rather paranoid at this point. Besides the centipedes that actually stung me and the one this morning, there have been assorted others in my room that I was able to see and kill before they did any damage. Hard to have any mercy for creatures like this. I will sometimes catch a roach and let it go somewhere away from my house, but a centipede gets killed on sight.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on April 27, 2013:

What a nightmare of a time you endured! That's the worst experience with these creatures I've ever heard -- and I've heard quite a few.

Regarding your concern for your cat when you move to Maui, cats have a really good sense of what is dangerous and what is not. My cat flung a centipede -- from the correct end -- several times before I could get to her the first time I let her outside to explore. She stared at it first and decided what was what and then flung the thing. During the next five years we lived there, I let her out in the yard (six foot fencing) all the time and she showed no further interest in them.

Sorry I took so long to reply. I wasn't on here for awhile due to other activities having to take up my time. I don't see any hubs on here written by you yet. I hope you might share some of your writings with us.

Thanks for commenting.

Mike in Dallas on April 09, 2013:

Am moving to Maui in a few years, but have a scary story about my first visit a dozen years ago. Arrived on Maui Christmas night and found our way to our rented cabin in Haiku. We were tired and hungry from the trip, but it was late, so we got undressed and went to bed. The next morning, I got up and dressed in the waterproof pants and top I had left on the floor. We ate a quick breakfast and headed out for a trip to the top of Haleakala. About a third of the way up, I looked over at my partner and said, wow, I think I got stung by something. My leg was just on fire. I thought it must have just been a bad ant bite. Instead of getting out of the car and undressing right there, I assumed I had killed the ant by pressing on my pants. When we got to the top, it still hurt, but we decided to go for a short hike. It was very cold and windy so I went around to the back of a rock formation and leaned against it. At that moment, I felt a "whap", right on my behind. I knew at that moment something was in my pants! I went racing down to the ranger station, and went in and told them what happened. They put me in the office and told me to take off my pants. When I did, a 10" long centipede came tumbling out and racing towards the wall. It had been hiding between the mesh insert in the pants and me. We all gasped and the ranger started to beat it with a shoe. I let out a cry and shook my pants again and yet another one came out. This one was dead. I must have killed it when I leaned against the rock. So, I had two bites in about an hours time. The rangers became very concerned because we were so far from medical help. They followed us down the volcano until we were near the bottom and we pulled over and let them know it seemed I was going to be OK. Hurt for the next day, then no problem.

I have seen only one other on my trips, but am concerned about when we move there. We are bringing our cat that is most definitely an outdoor boy and loves to chase bugs. Very scary to think one of these could kill him.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on January 12, 2013:

Gators and boas and centipedes. I wonder which one I'd be brave enough to face head on if I absolutely had to. I shouldn't have said that. Now it will probably happen in my night dreams.

Thanks for reading and commenting, dragonflyfla.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on January 12, 2013:

I had no idea that wolf spiders could get so big. My son-in-law killed one in their garage in Arizona and it turned out it was carrying a lot of baby spiders on board. Once he realized, it was too late. Baby wolf spiders everywhere -- ready to grow up quick and haunt the lady of the house. Tree roaches with claws? Wow. I'm scratching Texas off my list of places to see. But I sure do love the Texas drawl. Thanks for stopping by and reading, Au fait.

Joy Campbell from South Florida on January 12, 2013:

Ugg...thanks for sharing. I have never encountered a centipede before - just gators and boas!

C E Clark from North Texas on January 12, 2013:

Visiting Hawaii was never on my short list, but now it's not on the list at all! It's bad enough here in Texas with wolf spiders that are bigger than your hand -- I actually had one in my apartment that with legs extended was way bigger than a large dinner plate -- and tree roaches (bigger than my car) that have claws halfway up their legs. There's more too, but I won't get into it. Scorpions, snakes, etc.

The centipedes that live here on the mainland are horrible enough.

Anyway, very informative hub. Voted you up and interesting. Will share!

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on January 04, 2013:

40 of them! Oh, my goodness -- no matter how long that garden hoe was, you were BRAVE. Thanks for visiting and for the votes and shares, Brett.Tesol.

Brett C from Asia on January 04, 2013:

You may be surprised to learn, I know how you feel. We moved into a small ground floor apartment, to find they kept coming in. I noticed our dog was always barking at the garden, so I decided to clear it ... only to find about 40 of this things in a 4m2 plot. They really to keep coming at you and do not stop moving .... my solution was to dice them with a long garden hoe lol.

Shared, pinned, tweeted, up, useful, and interesting.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on September 27, 2012:

It's good you don't have to deal with them. They are scary. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Fotinoula Gypsyy from NYC BABY on September 26, 2012:

That really sucks! I don't know what I would do if I had to deal with those things here in NY.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on May 19, 2012:

You were brave. And there are those people around who actually really find bugs fascinating -- like your former corporal. It amazes me. Thanks for commenting.

C V on May 19, 2012:

When I was stationed at Kaneohe MCAS, working the night shift, and living in the barracks, I had one crawl in my window, and onto my bed. I was asleep at the time, and it crawled on my neck. I woke up with a fright, and slung my pillow (and the centipede)clean across the room. Needless to say, that did not kill him! So, I carefully scooped him up, not knowing if he were poisonous or not, and took him downstairs for one of my corporals, who loved bugs, to take a gander at.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on May 03, 2012:

Yes, whoa, thank you. That's quite a method you've got to get rid of centipedes. Our daughter did find the smell of the dead centipede attracted new visitors. After realizing that, she did indeed carry the intruding centipede outside with tongs before killing it and then the smell attracted new ones only to the front yard area. She and the family have moved from Maui -- so no more centipede problems for her.

I'm very surprised that a minute or so of swirling dirt in the vacuum can suffocate them. They are so tough. I know some readers have written me to say I'm a horrible person for wanting to kill them. They've obviously never been confronted with one when alone in a closed area. Thanks for commenting.

Sarah on May 03, 2012:

NOOO....tell your daughter to stop cutting them in half!! They put off a smell that attracts more centipedes!!! We live on Hickam and we have found the best option is to suck them up in the vacuum and let them swirl around with the dirt for a minute. The dust basically suffocates them and then you have zero smell to attract new centipedes.

din on April 25, 2012:

That's scary. Never knew that! We just had 2 big ones in our house on Kauai the past two nights cause it was raining.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on April 25, 2012:

Yes, centipedes do climb onto beds, walls and even ceilings. They especially like to hide under fridges after they make their sneaky entrance by clinging to the bottom of the sliding patio door for a few hours. If the yard has been newly sprayed with pesticide especially meant for them, centipedes wait for the sliding door to open so they can hitch a ride on the bottom of the panel to safety.

din on April 25, 2012:

Do they climb? Like onto beds? Walls?

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on March 27, 2012:

Well, then you are very lucky, Melissa. I have several friends who have been bitten and traumatized. I am glad you are able to see beauty in all of earth's creatures.

Melissa A Smith from New York on March 26, 2012:

10 inches, 12 inches, 20 inches; size does not detract from beauty. Neither does irrational fear. These animals have every reason and then some to fear US, smashing them, cutting them up for existing and prodding their dying bodies. I cringed reading this hub and its replies. Never has a centipede attacked me in such a manner or caused me any such distress.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on March 26, 2012:

You certainly are entitled to your opinion. It is the first time I've heard someone express their opinion of 10-inch to 11 or even 12-inch centipedes as beautiful animals, but, hey, you're entitled. As for your opinion on the feral cats, I am sorry to hear your opinion...but each to his own.

Melissa A Smith from New York on March 26, 2012:

What a shame that these beautiful animals arouse such disdain and pathetic fear from you and your family. They are hardly harming anything, which is more than what I can say for those 'feral cats' that you feed.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on March 18, 2012:

I can feel your anxiety. I've been there but not 'done that'. I've never done anything but yell for help and jump on the kitchen table. Good for you that you tackled it head on. I hope you never have to go through that again.

Angel Hawk on March 17, 2012:

I just saw a huge one crawling down my closet curtain and I went on automatic attack mode!! I didn't think I just took my slipper and beat the crap out of it! It was still alive!!! Sort of like a nightmare!! I only knocked it out….. so I threw it in the toilet and flushed it down with lots of paper chasing it!!! I hope i don't see another one for a long…long…while!!!

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on March 04, 2012:

Whoa, that's quite a tale of courage and fortitude you've told. I'm glad you survived to tell it. I honestly think I'd have a heart attack or an anxiety attack that would bring on a heart attack if one of those things crawled onto me -- to take a bite -- let alone actually bit me.

That really must have hurt. And I don't know how you stayed in the house after the second encounter -- or the first. I can understand how you have a slightly different feeling toward Hawaii now. Me, too. I gained that feeling after seeing the first centipede of many. My husband took a flying leap and stomped on it. It ran in two directions, half went one way, half went the other.

Darksorm on March 04, 2012:

Just got back from the big island and in only 9 days had two encounters with these multi-legged armored freaks-of-nature. I was living in the bottom apartment of the house my family rented. we'd been out walking a few days earlier and had seen a dead one, about 6 inches long. Not too big, but still... Ugh... Well, anyway, I was going down the stairs to my basement abode, barefoot as I had been over the past week to enjoy the heat, and WHAM!! Something hit my foot and stung like several bee stings! I only saw a flash of movement of something about a foot long, before I was up the stairs and back in the house. Those things hurt!! The twin punctures were about 3/4 of an inch apart and my foot went numb. It tingled painfully for the rest of the night, and was tender for several days. Then on the last night, I walked into the bathroom, to find one winding its way along the floor. After a mild panic attack and pausing to grab and don my steel toed shoes, I went back to crush the foul beast. Not such a great idea, as it turned out, there was a mild crunch as I only caught the back of it, and then it exploded into motion and vanished behind the toilet. When I bent to look, all I saw was a hole in the wall. It must have crawled outside, but I spent the rest of the night in a fenzy that it must have gotten into the walls and barely slept... Gotta say, I love Hawaii, but now that I've encountered these guys and been stung... I'm revising my opinion...

Laurie I on February 20, 2012:

I sure hope I am lucky enough to not see them at all.

thanks

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on February 15, 2012:

A pesticide company has different kinds of pesticide to spray along the sliding glass patio doors and under the fridge, etc -- and out on the lawn or parts of the yard. This does kill the critters but it generally takes a few days. You might be lucky, though, and not see a single one in your area. Thanks for stopping by.

Laurie I on February 14, 2012:

OH MY GOD!!!! I COULD NOT IMAGINE SEEING ONE OF THOSE DARN CENTIPEDES!!! WE ARE MOVING TO FORT SHAFTER HAWAII IN APRIL. I'M SO EXCITED TO MOVE THERE, BUT I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CENTIPEDES AND CANE SPIDERS. I'M ALREADY HAVING DREAMS OF THEM AND I'M NOT EVEN THERE YET. I WONDER, ARE THERE ANY ON FORT SHAFTER? HAVE ANYBODY SEEN THEM ON POST? WHAT CAN YOU BUY TO KILL THEM? HELP PLEASE!!

SO FREAKED OUT!

Keri Summers from West of England on January 27, 2012:

I was working on Discovery wildlife films. Amazing experience, but it had its occasional challenges! But in general I have to say I felt very safe there. In the UK, before I went, I felt far more nervous driving 60 miles a day on the busy motorways, whereas in the Serengeti there was nothing to crash into! Different kinds of dangers.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on January 26, 2012:

This is the first time I've been happy to hear of a creature which was used for research in a laboratory. But even though I can't stand these creatures, I am glad he was dead for the purpose of the research. Thanks for the read.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on January 26, 2012:

You're a very brave lady, Keri Summers. I can't imagine what you'd be doing in a tent under such conditions. I'd last about ten minutes and that's if the tent was right outside the nice hotel.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on January 26, 2012:

That's so sad that someone there died from a centipede bite. Yes, he must have been allergic as you mention as I know several people who've been bitten and recovered. The next comment (by Keri Summers) is to you, too.

Kris Heeter from Indiana on January 25, 2012:

These are just creepy. We had one as a "pet" in the lab I worked in as a graduate student. It sat in an aquarium right near my bench and I hated looking at it.

It eventually gave it's life for science- it was used for genetic sequencing. I was happy to see it go and so very glad that I didn't have to be the one to pull it out and kill it to get it's DNA!

Keri Summers from West of England on January 25, 2012:

Sustainable Sue, that's really scary. When I lived in Africa, rain would flood scorpions out of their holes, and they'd take refuge in our tents. Aaaagh! But it wasn't as bad as your centipedes. And I learnt to stick a rolled up sock in the place where the three zips met in my sleeping tent doorway, 'cos nothing was going to get in there if I could help it. Nor snakes, beetles etc. Amazing places to live, but nerves of steel are sometimes needed. I love your Hawaii stories Pamela.

Sustainable Sue from Altadena CA, USA on January 20, 2012:

Afterwards I heard that one of the students at the college there had been bitten by a centipede while showering. He swelled all up and died from it. I'm not allergic to insects or anything, but yeah, I'm glad I didn't get bit either.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on January 18, 2012:

Sustainable Sue, hundreds of thousands -- or even just hundreds -- of centipedes would traumatize me for life. I'm so glad you have lived to regale the fact and still sound normal. I'm glad it didn't ruin you for life. That's an amazing story. And it's also amazing that you didn't get bitten before your brother showed up.

Sustainable Sue from Altadena CA, USA on January 16, 2012:

I lived in Laie when I was eleven. That was . . . 1961. Our house had just been built and two houses down there was a giant bare field, part of which housed the machinery. One day I came meandering back from the beach across that field, barefoot, not long after it had rained. Gradually I noticed movement near my feet, then all throughout the field! Hundreds of thousands of centipedes swarming out of their burrows, spreading across the ground! And I was already too far across to turn back. One crawled across my foot, then another. I screamed at my brothers who were way ahead of me and started sobbing. They were both wearing shoes. One of them came back to help me the rest of the way home. That was one of the only two times that I was really scared living there.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on October 07, 2011:

TattooKitty, and HOW you must remember getting bit by one. That has got to be the all-time nightmare, living through the moments until you can get the THING off of you.

Thanks for dropping by to read my hub.

TattooKitty from Hawaii on October 07, 2011:

Great hub & fantastic topic! I remember getting bit by one in a resort on the Kona side. It crawled right under the doorway of our condo! When my mom told the front desk what happened, they told her it was "centipede season" LMAO!!!

sundaynews from Tampa, FL on May 24, 2011:

Eeeyouuuuu! I live in Florida and I have learned to take lizards, giant grasshoppers, beetles and even roaches - even big flying roaches - (I do HATE those things though), but I don't know about those centipedes. I still think Hawaii would be great.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on May 08, 2011:

MosLadder and JMAW, thanks for reading my hub. I've seen the centipedes in Arizona and you're right, MosLadder.

JMAW from Hawaii on May 06, 2011:

I am not a fan at all of centipedes. We had mean ones growing up in Hilo. Very informative and in depth giving the play by play on the centipedes!

Chris Montgomery from Irvine, CA on April 23, 2011:

We had forgotten about those painful buggers until we moved to Arizona. Now we get scorpions and centipedes! But its ok, the centipedes out here would make a quick meal for those monsters on Maui, yikes!

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on January 19, 2011:

Thank you, Pat. Yes, the centipede in the photo is alive. It might have been de-fanged, though. It looks like it might be missing it's big pincher-things.

Pat Dubé on January 18, 2011:

Pam, First I want to say thanks for your lighthearted way of dealing with such an icky subject!! I enjoyed your levity. I, also, enjoyed the comments. I do have a question, though. The top picture where the "thing" is on the person's hand...is it alive??? It is painful even to look at this never mind thinking of it on someone's hand!!

B from Oklahoma on December 29, 2010:

YIKES, That first picture is going to give me nightmares :)I thought it would be wonderful to live on an island in Hawaii, but after reading your hub....well I'm not so sure. Still, it would be a great place to visit. It sounds like you and your family are very brave, more brave than you may think; at least a lot more brave than me :) I enjoyed reading your Hub, thanks for being so candid.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on August 24, 2010:

Phil Smith, thank you for the advice. I have now sent the information on to my family and friends. We need all the help we can get. And thank you for reading the hub.

Phil Smith on August 24, 2010:

get carburetor/choke cleaner at a car parts store, like Berryman's Chemtool. Works in a few seconds on most insects, I just nuked a big centipede with some and it disabled him immediately and killed him in under 10 seconds - it evaporates quickly and leaves no residue.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on August 13, 2010:

KelliJ, I think Schofield Barracks is in a pretty dry area so probably doesn't have too much of a problem over there. And (if it is a wet area) if you can get the house and yard sprayed monthly, there's hardly ever a problem. Try not to let the bugs here worry you.

My husband killed a cockroach for me tonight -- and we rarely get them in this house. I said thank you, of course, and then I couldn't resist saying what I always say: "That's why every woman here needs a husband!" LOL

Thank you for stopping by to read.

KelliJ on August 13, 2010:

Ugh, those pictures are so GROSS! I was worried about the cockroaches here in El Paso, but these are nothing compared to THAT. LOL... I was so excited to be moving to Hawaii come Feb 2011 and now I'm not so sure haha. We're going to be living on post Schofield Barracks, so I don't know what the weather is like around there and how many people deal with centipedes. =[

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on July 09, 2010:

JulieBull, that's how I feel, too, and last week we had our first one ever in our house. It was under the fridge. Lucily, it was small. My cat heard it before me and she tossed it out of there. I screamed (and wanted to pack and leave.) My husband woke up and came to kill it. Poison spray or not, I had our place sprayed the next day.

Thanks for reading.

JulieBull on July 09, 2010:

I was just thinking - wow what would it be like to live on a paradise island - then I remembered that in the UK the worse thing I have seen today is a caterpiller!

If I came face to face with one of these critters I would be on the next flight home!!!

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on July 03, 2010:

GarnetBird, yes these creatures are truly enough to keep a person awake at night -- if one is spotted some time in the day lurking out the door. The centipedes I used to encounter in British Columbia were only about 1.5 inches to 2 inches long.

Thank you for stopping by to read.

Gloria Siess from Wrightwood, California on July 02, 2010:

I would be more afraid of these centipedes than of the rattlesnakes I encounter, as these things come into your home and can hide more easily!O, wow--I never knew of these creatures getting so LONG and alarming looking.Very creepy. Great Hub!

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on June 29, 2010:

Lucie, last night for the first time since moving back here to the islands, I had a centipede on the patio. I had just let the cat out and closed the screen. When I saw it, I started yelling at the cat to come in. Years ago she had played with one turning it over and over, just barely escaping death. I had to go out there and grab her. I didn't sleep well last night and I'm keeping the glass sliding door closed from now on. It's funny how relaxed we get if we don't see anything scary for a few months.

I worry about them getting into my grandchildren's beds, too. They've had five centipedes in their place now -- that they know of. They're moving back to Arizona in three months, though. There they will have scorpions to deal with. We have scorpions here, but we're the only ones we know who have had to encounter them in our home. (Seven months ago.) But in Arizona there are scorpions in houses -- wherever orange orchards once stood. When we owned a home there years ago, my brother would come over with his son. Our son and his cousin and uncle would fire blast the wretched things in the back yard. I can't remember the man-kind of tool they'd use, but it would throw fire at them. I'd actually feel sorry for the scorpions. Then within two days I'd find another one on the wall near the head of the bed and I'd wish I could move away. I did.

I would love to live where you live.

Thanks for reading the hub.

lucieanne from Rotherham United Kingdom on June 29, 2010:

You know what Pamela, since I met you on here I've been sort of envious of you living on a paradise island with the beautiful ocean and stunning scenery. Now you've told us about these critters I'm not so sure. Can they really hurt you then? Do they bite or sting? I would live in fear of one getting into my (or worse-the grandkids' beds) and causing something nasty to happen Ugh! They look ugly and iof a bug looks ugly it IS ugly. Can't you get bug spray to kill them like cockroaches? (I hate them too) I'm shuddering at the thought! A very good read though - thanks.

Regards. Lucie

Holle Abee from Georgia on June 10, 2010:

Awesome job! I don't like to kill things, but I will if they're venomous. I'll have nightmares now! lol

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on May 30, 2010:

Sinister is an excellent word for them. Thanks for reading it, A.A. Zavala and may you have a good Memorial Day.

Augustine A Zavala from Texas on May 30, 2010:

I had a friend who was in the 25th infantry stationed at Schofield Barracks. When they camped out in the field, they always had to check their sleeping bags for these devils. Truly sinister.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on May 24, 2010:

Pinkboxer, thanks. By the way, I had garlic today and was quoting you to my husband.

pinkboxer from Louisiana on May 23, 2010:

I'm staying in a safe place with the tourists!lol. Great photos. They gave me the creeps.

billyaustindillon on May 20, 2010:

Wow these are some scary dudes - I can only imagine finding one in your bed - that would bring a yelp or two - great photos too!

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on May 19, 2010:

Thanks for braving the photos and reading this. I have to put my hand out in front of my face to shield my eyes from the images of these guys -- while I scroll down to reply to you.

I have been so lucky. We haven't had one single centipede in our home yet -- in almost ten years of living on the islands. And I have heard from unlucky people that centipedes like to be under the warm covers of a bed. UGHHHHH

Malama pono.

Elayne from Rocky Mountains on May 19, 2010:

Yikes - we had many centipedes in Tonga. Luckily I haven't seen too many here in Laie where I live, because I go bonkers when I see them, they are so big and scary looking. You reminded me of the day when I brought the broom in from the back porch and started to sweep when one large centipede came out of the broom and headed towards me. Loud scream, my hero husband came running and chopped it into little pieces. Bug spray is not so effective as a big machete.

Pamela Dapples (author) from Just Arizona Now on May 18, 2010:

You're brave. I would definitely leave the house until someone could come home and kill it. But you're smarter because obviously if the someone comes home and can't find the thing -- I'm not sleeping there. So your method works better. Thanks for stopping by. (P.S. We keep a clear plastic bowl over the bathtub drain when not using the tub. It keeps big cockroaches down where they belong, but I imagine a centipede could push it away like nuthin'.)

Rose West from Michigan on May 18, 2010:

Those photos give me a sinking feeling inside! I didn't know about the centipedes in Hawaii until I moved here. I guess paradise needs something to keep it from being heaven :) One time, a huge centipede came up the drain when I was by myself, and then it disappeared when I left to frantically find the bug spray. It eventually came out from behind the couch. It taks a LOT of bug spray to kill one of those things!