House Centipede

Natural Habitat

Damp, cool areas like basements, bathrooms, and crawl spaces; originally from the Mediterranean but now found worldwide in human dwellings.

Diet & Feeding

Insectivorous predator that eats household pests including flies, cockroaches, termites, spiders, silverfish, and moths.

Behavior Patterns

Extremely fast runner capable of up to 0.4 meters per second; nocturnal hunters that use long antennae to sense prey; life cycle includes egg, larval, and adult stages over several years.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial as a natural pest control agent. While capable of biting humans in self-defense, their venom is weak, and they generally cannot pierce human skin; they are considered harmless and avoid human contact.

Identified on: 4/9/2026