Centipedes
(Chilopoda class)
Fast-moving, many-legged predators that live in damp areas and startle homeowners with their speed.
Overview
Centipedes, particularly the house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata), are common in Bowling Green basements, bathrooms, and crawl spaces. They are fast-moving predators that feed on insects, spiders, and other small arthropods — making them actually beneficial despite their alarming appearance. House centipedes are the species most often encountered indoors, easily recognized by their long, delicate legs and rapid, darting movement. While they can deliver a mild bite if handled (similar to a bee sting), they are not aggressive toward humans.
Appearance
House centipedes are 1 to 1-1/2 inches long with a yellowish-brown body bearing three dark longitudinal stripes. They have 15 pairs of very long, banded legs that become progressively longer toward the rear of the body, giving them a distinctive 'leggy' appearance. Their legs allow them to move at remarkable speeds across floors, walls, and even ceilings. Other centipede species found outdoors (soil centipedes) are darker and more worm-like.
Habitat
House centipedes prefer damp, dark areas with high humidity. Indoors, they are most commonly found in basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and utility areas. They are often seen in bathtubs and sinks because they become trapped on the smooth surfaces. Outdoors, centipedes live under stones, bark, leaf litter, and in soil. They are strictly nocturnal.
Diet
Centipedes are voracious predators. House centipedes eat silverfish, cockroaches, carpet beetle larvae, spiders, bed bugs, and other small insects and arthropods. They use their modified front legs (maxillipeds), which contain venom glands, to capture and subdue prey. A house centipede in the home may actually indicate the presence of other pests it is feeding on.
Lifecycle
House centipede females lay 35 to 150 eggs in damp soil or crevices. Young centipedes start with fewer leg pairs and add more with each molt. House centipedes can live 3 to 7 years — unusually long for an arthropod. They molt throughout their lives, growing additional legs and segments.
Signs of Infestation
- !Fast-moving, many-legged insects darting across basement floors, bathroom walls, or ceilings
- !Centipedes found in bathtubs, sinks, or floor drains (trapped on smooth surfaces)
- !Seeing centipedes at night in damp areas of the home
- !Their presence may indicate an underlying pest problem (they feed on other insects)
Prevention Tips
- ✓Reduce humidity in basements and bathrooms with dehumidifiers and exhaust fans
- ✓Seal cracks and gaps around the foundation, windows, and utility penetrations
- ✓Remove leaf litter and organic debris from around the foundation
- ✓Fix plumbing leaks and ensure proper drainage
- ✓Address underlying insect problems that serve as their food source
Professional Treatment
Centipede control focuses on reducing humidity, sealing entry points, and eliminating their insect prey. Residual treatments applied to baseboards and cracks in basements and utility areas are effective. Glue traps placed along walls can capture wandering centipedes. Because house centipedes indicate the presence of other pests, a full inspection often reveals additional pest issues that should be addressed simultaneously.
Did You Know?
- •House centipedes can live up to 7 years — one of the longest lifespans of any household arthropod.
- •They can run at speeds over 1 foot per second — equivalent to a human sprinting at 40 mph.
- •Centipedes always have an odd number of leg pairs — never an even number.
- •They are among the few household arthropods that actively hunt and eat cockroaches.
1 to 1-1/2 inches (house centipede; other species up to 6 inches)
Yellowish-brown with dark stripes (house centipede); varies by species
15 to 177 pairs (1 pair per body segment)
Elongated, flat body with long legs
House centipede, Hundred legger
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Other Occasional Invaders in Our Library
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Shield-shaped invasive insects that enter homes in large numbers in fall and release a foul odor when disturbed.
Boxelder Bugs
Black-and-red bugs that swarm on sunny walls in fall before entering homes to overwinter.
Cluster Flies
Large, sluggish flies that enter attics and wall voids in fall to hibernate in large clusters.
Earwigs
Distinctive insects with rear pincers that hide in moist areas and enter homes during wet weather.