How to Get Rid of Centipedes in a Swimming Pool
House centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata) are commonly found in gardens, where they rest under woody debris during the day and emerge at night to hunt for insects. Centipedes are not aquatic insects but may fall into a pool when searching for prey. Centipedes cannot swim and therefore drown when they fall into a swimming pool, making it a simple process to remove them with basic pool-maintenance equipment. Centipedes, while an occasional problem, are rarely a persistent pest in swimming pools. However, if you continue to find centipedes in your pool, you may have to address areas in your landscape that harbor large numbers of the insects.
Inspect pool skimmers daily for centipedes and remove. Since centipedes cannot swim, they will most likely drift into pool skimmers overnight.
Collect any centipedes floating in the open water of your pool with a pool net. According to Texas A&M University, centipedes have powerful mandibles and can inject a mild venom that causes a painful reaction in some people, so use a net to prevent injury from centipedes that may still be alive.
Identify damp, dark areas on your property where centipedes live. Areas such compost, wood and stone piles, as well as leafy debris areas, are favorable habitats for centipedes, according to the University of California. Removing these objects from your lawn makes your property less attractive to centipedes and helps prevent unwanted guests in your pool in the future.
