Bug Identifier
House centipede (likely)
Community identification

House centipede (likely)

Scutigera coleoptrata

Order & Family
Order Scutigeromorpha; family Scutigeridae
Size
Adults are typically 25–35 mm (1–1.4 in) long, excluding their exceptionally long legs.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Damp, sheltered places such as basements, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and under debris; commonly found indoors.

Diet & Feeding

A predatory carnivore that eats flies, cockroaches, silverfish, spiders, and other small arthropods.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, fast-running, and moisture-seeking; it hides in cracks by day and hunts at night. Females lay eggs in moist soil, and juveniles develop through several molts.

Risks & Benefits

Generally beneficial because it controls household pests and rarely bites people. Bites are uncommon and usually cause localized pain, redness, or swelling.