Centipedes are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda, and they are overwhelmingly nocturnal. Their peak activity occurs after sunset, driven by their physical biology and need to hunt. They spend the day concealed in dark, secluded environments, emerging under the cover of darkness to forage.
Why Centipedes Emerge After Dark
The primary driver of nocturnal behavior in centipedes is their unique physiology, particularly their challenge with moisture regulation. Unlike many insects, centipedes lack a thick, waxy cuticle on their exoskeleton, making them highly susceptible to desiccation. They rapidly lose water when exposed to dry air or direct sunlight, which makes daytime activity dangerous to their survival.
Centipedes seek the cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels that occur after sunset. This allows them to conserve the moisture their bodies need to function and move efficiently. The nighttime also coincides with the activity periods of many of their prey species, making hunting more efficient.
Daytime Shelters and Preferred Environments
When not actively hunting, centipedes retreat to microhabitats that offer protection from light, heat, and dryness. Outdoors, they are often found beneath rocks, decaying logs, and layers of leaf litter, where moisture is trapped and temperatures remain stable. These environments mimic the cool, dark, and damp conditions essential for their survival during daylight hours.
When centipedes enter human structures, they seek out similar conditions, gravitating toward areas of high humidity and low disturbance. Common indoor retreats include basements, crawl spaces, utility closets, and damp bathrooms. They utilize cracks, wall voids, and crevices as sheltered resting spots until nightfall prompts their emergence.
Their Nocturnal Diet and Role
The centipede’s nocturnal activity is dedicated to predation, as they are generalist carnivores consuming a wide variety of small invertebrates. They are equipped with a pair of modified front legs called forcipules, which they use to inject venom to quickly subdue their prey. This venomous bite allows them to take down creatures that are often larger or faster than they are.
Their diet frequently includes common household and garden pests, such as spiders, silverfish, cockroaches, crickets, and insect larvae. Centipedes are considered beneficial within an ecosystem because they help control these pest populations. Their presence indoors often indicates an existing population of their preferred food source.