Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification.
Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification.
Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification.
🔍 Identification
25-35mm body; 15 pairs of very long, banded legs (30 legs total); yellow-grey with dark stripes; extremely fast; prominent compound eyes and long antennae. Found in basements, bathrooms, and anywhere prey is abundant. Nocturnal — emerges from wall voids at night to hunt. Freezes when startled, then bursts into rapid movement. The extra-long legs create an exaggerated appearance.
🧬 Biology & Behavior
House centipedes are generalist predators hunting: cockroaches, silverfish, spiders, moths, earwigs, and small flies. A single house centipede can consume dozens of insects per week. They've lived commensally with humans worldwide for centuries — they specifically evolved to exploit the pest-rich environment of human structures. They can bite defensively when directly grabbed but the bite is mild (compared to a bee sting) and not medically significant.
⚠️ Damage & Health Risk
Psychological distress from alarming appearance. No physical damage. The presence of house centipedes indicates the presence of the pest insects they hunt — the centipedes are a symptom, not the cause.
🔧 DIY Treatment
If centipede numbers are high, address the underlying prey population (cockroaches, silverfish). Reducing moisture reduces prey and centipede habitat. Bifenthrin perimeter spray reduces numbers. But consider: allowing house centipedes in basements and utility spaces provides free pest control service continuously.
👷 When to Call a Pro
Rarely warranted — centipedes indicate other pest problems are the priority.