House Centipede

Natural Habitat

Damp, dark areas including basements, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and under mulch or rocks outdoors.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; hunts household pests like silverfish, cockroaches, termites, spiders, and bed bugs.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal hunters known for extreme speed and agility; they use long, sensitive antennae to locate prey and have 15 pairs of long legs.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial for natural pest control in homes; they are generally harmless to humans, though they can rarely bite if handled, causing mild localized irritation.

Identified on: 5/18/2026