The house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, is a common household arthropod known for its startling appearance and rapid movement. This creature, native to the Mediterranean region, has spread globally and is often found indoors. When a homeowner spots one, the immediate concern is often the size of the hidden population. Centipedes are generally solitary hunters, and seeing one does not typically signal an infestation of dozens.
What Determines the Population Size
The population size of house centipedes is highly dependent on two specific environmental conditions within the home: moisture and food availability. Centipedes lack a waxy exoskeleton, which means they easily lose water through their bodies and cannot survive long in dry environments. They actively seek out damp, high-humidity areas to prevent desiccation, making places with persistent water issues attractive.
If a home has leaky plumbing, poor ventilation in bathrooms, or a consistently damp basement, it provides the stable, moist habitat required for them to thrive and reproduce. The second factor is the presence of prey, as these centipedes are predators. Their diet includes other household pests such as spiders, silverfish, cockroaches, and bed bugs.
A high population of centipedes usually indicates an underlying abundance of these other insects, which serves as a steady food source. House centipedes also reproduce slowly compared to many other household pests, further limiting their potential population explosion.
Where Centipedes Hide Inside the Home
House centipedes are highly secretive and nocturnal hunters, preferring dark, concealed spaces that offer protection and sustained humidity. If one is seen, it is likely because its hiding spot was disturbed or it was actively foraging for prey.
Specific harborage locations include basements, crawlspaces, and laundry areas, which tend to have elevated moisture levels. They utilize structural voids, hiding in cracks in concrete slabs, within wall voids, and behind baseboards. Centipedes are also frequently found near drains or plumbing fixtures, which provide both moisture and a path for entry.
Reducing Their Presence Through Maintenance
The most effective strategy for decreasing the number of house centipedes involves controlling the environmental factors that support them, rather than relying on direct treatment alone. Focusing on these factors is the first step.
Moisture Reduction
Focusing on moisture reduction is the first step, since centipedes cannot survive long in dry air. This involves using dehumidifiers in damp areas like basements and ensuring proper ventilation in bathrooms to reduce humidity levels. Fixing leaky pipes or dripping fixtures immediately eliminates sources of standing water.
Food Source Management
Managing other household pests is equally important because it removes the centipede’s food source. By controlling populations of spiders, silverfish, and other small insects through cleaning and targeted pest management, the home becomes less attractive to centipedes.
Exclusion Techniques
Exclusion techniques limit their ability to find shelter and enter the structure. Sealing cracks and gaps in the foundation, around utility line openings, and near windows and doors prevents their entry and eliminates their preferred dark hiding spots.