Watch a Woman Expel a Centipede the Size of a Hot Dog From Her Shoe

Written by Kirstin Harrington
Updated: October 19, 2023
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One woman learned the hard way that sometimes, little creepy crawlies find shelter in our belongings. An individual on Reddit takes on her white tennis shoe and uses a pair of tweezers to take out something she felt on her foot, only to find out it was a massive centipede

Because the creature is so long, it takes her a while to carefully remove it from her sneaker. Though the word “centipede” technically translates to “100 legs,” this pest can really have anywhere between 15 and 177 pairs. Because of their long and narrow legs, they can move quickly.

We see this in action when the woman in the video tosses the animal to the floor. Many of the comments on the Reddit post mention how that wasn’t the brightest idea, as now she likely has a centipede on the loose in her home. 

A couple of people on the thread share an interesting idea. One person writes, “I’m confused as to why the shoe has not yet been lit on fire?” This makes another user respond with “Yeah I’d be worried there’s eggs in there.”

Watch the Massive Creepy Crawler Emerge!

How Do Centipedes Lay Eggs?

Centipedes deposit their eggs in the ground or in the crevices of decaying logs. The majority of females will take care of their eggs and hatchlings, wrapping their body protectively around the young. In order for eggs to mature, they must also be groomed because they are susceptible to the development of fungi.

Geophilus

A female centipede can lay over 100 eggs in one batch.

©Soil Centipede, 38° 58′ 46.84″ N, 77° 02′ 25.41″ W Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap. – License

Are Centipedes Dangerous?

Particularly when the centipedes are huge in size, centipede bites can be excruciatingly painful. Although centipedes will deploy their venom as a defense strategy, their bites can still be painful even if they are normally not hazardous or fatal.

You will see a red or swollen splotch of skin surrounding the bite mark if you believe you were bit by a centipede. Most of the time, any discomfort will go away after 48 hours. In addition to eradicating centipedes, an excellent approach to preventing them from getting into your house is to get rid of any vermin they are trying to eat; accomplish this by caulking window cracks, cleaning out the kitchen trash frequently, and putting moth balls in your closet and dresser drawers.

What Attracts Centipedes?

Old Bathroom Sink Faucet contaminated with calcium and grime. Hard water flows from an old tap aerator.

A dripping faucet, especially in a basement, can attract centipedes.

©Serhii Ivashchuk/Shutterstock.com

Homes with dampness may be the reason household centipedes enter because they prefer dark, damp regions. A lot of individuals discover them in their closets, bathrooms, basements, or toilets and bathtubs. Keep in mind that they are drawn to other insects and will make every effort to locate them.

The cozy feel of your bedding may also attract these critters, particularly if you have a bed bug problem. Keep the area around your bed clean and wash bed sheets thoroughly to prevent this.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Ron Eldie/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Kirstin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering animals, news topics, fun places, and helpful tips. Kirstin has been writing on a variety of topics for over five years. She has her real estate license, along with an associates degree in another field. A resident of Minnesota, Kirstin treats her two cats (Spook and Finlay) like the children they are. She never misses an opportunity to explore a thrift store with a coffee in hand, especially if it’s a cold autumn day!

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